What students, faculty, and recent graduates say about Education at Principia.

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Early classroom experience

"Probably the best thing about being an education major at Principia College," says a senior, "is that we get to work directly with children in their schools during both our sophomore and junior years, before our ten weeks of student teaching as seniors." This student, who is preparing to teach high-school English, says that because of this practical approach she and other students majoring in education "are absolutely positive that teaching is what we want to do."

For one quarter during their sophomore year, education majors live in a separate house and take all their classes together. "During sophomore block we also go out into the community on field trips to the art museum, the zoo, the science center, to book stores, teachers' shops, and schools," says an elementary education major. Students say they find the education block program intense, but with "a good kind of intensity."

Taught by master teachers

"Our professors don't just teach subject matter," says a senior with a second major in sociology. "The education major includes not just what to teach, but how to teach."

"I really love the professors," says a sophomore who is also majoring in English. "They're very open-minded and receptive. I like the freedom we're given. We have a voice in what kind of exams and tests we take, and often in how we're graded."

"By the way we teach our classes," adds an education professor, "we show our students a variety of teaching methods. They actually see it happening, instead of having to infer it from a lecture."

"At Principia, you're part of a learning community, rather than just an individual student making your way through a variety of courses," says a recent education graduate. "The education professors will not only know your name, but know you well. You can ask them questions and get help with your writing. The professors burn quite a bit of midnight oil to give you this support system, but I think you are also pushed much harder academically."

Focus on individual growth

"You learn to be a good listener," says a senior who returned to college for the education major so he can teach high-school math. "Socially, people are conditioned to press their own views. One of the things I like about the education professors is that they train you to value the thoughts of others. Also, they force us to justify why we think what we think; they help us discover any discrepancies between our philosophy and our actions."

"The whole focus of the major is on your personal growth, on what kind of a communicator you are. That's scary for a lot of people. It's hard to look at yourself and see what you're good at and what you can improve," says a senior. "But I'm definitely ready to teach; I feel completely prepared in every way."

Demanding program

"Our students deal with significant issues facing public-school people today," says an education professor. "It is very demanding on them to face the complex social and political issues of race, class, and gender."

"I've been stretched so much," agrees an elementary ed student. "In our classes we learn a lot about social issues like racism, classism, gender roles, and world issues. The Education Department has prepared me to deal with people from diverse backgrounds."

"Students have to be willing to challenge their own prejudices," says another professor. "They have to be responsible not just as learners, but as teachers, too. They have to come to class every day, ready to generate ideas with their colleagues, ready to produce."

"It's a very intense program," a senior ed student observes. "The department asks a lot of you, but, looking back, I can now see that it really helps, because that's the kind of pace you're going to have as a teacher."

State certification requires every education student to carry a second major. Students say it's possible to participate in varsity sports or take part in an abroad, but managing their time takes discipline and planning.

Preparation for life after college

"I was able to obtain a teaching position before I graduated from Principia," says a recent education grad. "The support and close relationships with my professors really helped me become a confident teacher. They took time to help me put together my resume and wrote recommendations for me. We still keep in touch."

"I took a graduate course and was amazed to find that I had already studied all of the things in that course as an education major at Prin," reported another recent graduate. "I knew just as much, or more, about education than teachers in my class who had been teaching for several years."

"My master's program was basically a breeze compared to the undergraduate education program at Prin," echoed a recent grad, now a junior high school teacher. "I have attended four universities, and Principia's education program was by far the most challenging and rewarding—preparing me very well for my teaching career."