Scott Crump
Utah Teacher of the Year
Bingham High School, South Jordan, UT
Grades 10-12, History and Political Science

My teaching philosophy
Some teachers see students as vessels to be filled up, but I see students as candles to be lit. Once lit with the joy of knowledge, they then can burn brightly as life-long learning illuminates their entire life.

My philosophy in action
My role as a teacher is to give information to motivate and create questions in students' minds so that they come up with their own ideas. My job is stimulating and fun; I relish the opportunity to learn along with my students about unfolding world events. The real reward for teaching is the satisfaction of knowing that I have made a difference in a student's life and have lit his or her candle. For me, it is not enough to simply expose students to government and history. I have long believed that students learn best by being totally immersed in a subject. Another satisfying part of my job is seeing students finally connect historical events and political philosophies with current world issues.

My greatest teaching accomplishment
The underpinning philosophy of my classroom activities stems from my desire to help my students become responsible citizens. I teach them to understand, appreciate and participate in the democratic process. Young people often feel powerless to change the society which surrounds them, but in my class they actually submit bills to the state legislature and lobby for their passage, simulate and participate in campaigns and elections, simulate the Constitutional Convention or sessions of Congress, visit the courts and a law firm or even live for a school week under totalitarian rule. I help them to see that one person or several working in concert, can powerfully impact the structure of a democracy.

The most critical issue facing educators today
Many of today's major educational issues are the result of the breakdown of the American family. When the family fails, the school system feels the effects of that failure. Drugs, suicide, violence, cheating, prejudice and many other social ills in our communities are coming into our classrooms. Now most teachers must include character development and values as part of their curriculum--values such as integrity, dependability, good citizenship, personal responsibility and respect for others. The demands on teachers reach beyond teaching subject matter, but teachers still must meet the requirements of school boards and legislatures.

Ways to resolve this issue
More than just subject matter, I believe it is the duty of every teacher to be a role model for his or her students. We are important adults in their lives. What we say and do and how we treat them is going to make an impression on them. For some students we are the only adults they communicate and interact with. Who we are and how we behave can have a huge influence on our students' attitudes about themselves and their futures. I strongly believe that a teacher should model correct behavior. If I want a student to write well, I should demonstrate good writing. If I want a student to be politically involved in our community, I should be involved in community affairs myself. Teaching reaches beyond the worksheets, the group projects, and the class discussion. Good teaching touches the heart.

One thought to inspire other teachers to succeed
"A teacher affects eternity; he or she can never tell where his influence stops." Henry Adams

One lesson every student should learn
I think that every student should learn to be a responsible citizen of this country. They should be able to understand, appreciate and participate in the democratic process. They should know that one person, or several working in concert, can powerfully impact the structure of a democracy.

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