Robert Stojakovich
I am a: Music Teacher, Magothy River Middle School | 2017 Teacher of the Year Semi-Finalist
An eclectic philosophical view with the strong ideals of Perennialism, Essentialism and Reconstructionism that can be woven together in order to foster development of the whole child aligns with my beliefs as a music educator. There must be a balance between development and knowledge. I hear and I forget; I see and I remember; I do and I understand.
This principle stated by Chinese philosopher and reformer Confucius, is similar in ideology to the Progressivism educational philosophy and the motif of music education. When we give children the opportunity to be learner, problem solver and thinker we create opportunities in which they are the stakeholders. They use their acquired skills and knowledge for performance applications and create an academically rigorous product.
Talent is only as developed as our mastery of skills allow. I have found that doing alone is not always enough–PRACTICE MAKES PERMANENT, NOT NECESSARILY PERFECT. Students need the support of a well-structured approach which gives them the competence of skills they need to fulfill an innate ability of being human–the propensity for well-being mentally and physically. For this to occur, I have developed a program of study that includes a compelling pursuit of competence, relatedness, and sense of autonomy. My journey has lead me to discover that for learning to be relevant for students it must be reciprocal. Rationales for the skills learned should have clear ties to the end product. Content must be relevant for there to be motivation. Motivation must be present for students to have the stamina to engage in the struggle. Reciprocity, enables children become, not only successful, but significant when the relationship between teacher and student is symbiotic.
My goal as a music educator and steward of the arts is to foster a passion of learning through music to the next generation. My father taught us to “leave “it” better than you “found it.”
