A REFLECTION/REACTION PAPER ON
THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
I believe that educational psychology is essential in order for us to understand the behavior of every
human being - to be more patient with every differences we encounter in each individual especially to our
learners. It will also teach us how to deal with every person we get along, and it will help us understand
ourselves for us to become a better person.
According to Mohamed Marwan (2017) learning and learning processes are complex processes, where
the teacher needs continuous and continuous development of his or her educational skills and teaching
methods to suit general and specific educational goals, to achieve these goals and to ensure that the educational
process is successful in performing them. And according to him, educational psychology offers strategies and
methods that will help the teacher to understand the student's psychology and through the development of
educational curricula in the light of the students' abilities and aptitudes so as not to overload them and to
research the psychological problems facing the student at different age levels. To research the motivation of
students to the process of learning and employment to reach students to the stage of acceptance and positive
interaction, and thus to achieve the success of the educational process.
Educational Psychology has revealed that all possibility of education lies in the potentialities of the
child and his nature. Rousseau said, “Study the child as we do not understand him.” To him, child was a book
which had to be studied by every teacher. In this way, as a result of the insight given by Educational
Psychology a new child-study- movement has started in the field of education. Introduction of this science to
Education has brought about a revolutionary change in the field of Education.
New education is not mere acquisition of knowledge and information. It is modification of the child’s
behavior and an all-round development of the child’s personality. New education is for the child and apart
from child it has no purpose. Thus, in the picture of new education it is the child that figures most. In other
words, they say, education has been psychologized. This change has shifted the emphasis from matter to the
child. All that is to be taught to the child should be determined by the nature, needs and capacities of the child
himself. In the same way, introduction of psychology to education has also changed the conception of
discipline. Discipline in the new education should be positive, not negative.
A REFLECTION/REACTION PAPER ON THE ARTICLE TEACHING AS A MINISTRY
I strongly agree that teaching is a ministry where God sent His only begotten Son on earth to be our
great teacher through the life of Jesus Christ. According to Steven Levy (2019), classroom teachers have the
opportunity and responsibility to minister every day to the children and young people in their classrooms by
what they teach, how they teach, and who they are as representatives of Jesus. This ministry requires consistent
modeling, mastery of content, skilled instruction, wise counseling, a servant heart, and God's calling on each
teacher's life. It is the teacher's call that serves not only as the starting point for the task but also as a source of
encouragement, focus, and renewal.
Education as a Christian ministry is certainly about instruction. I strongly agree because according to
George Knight (1998), in his book on Christian philosophy and education, describes the work of Christian
education as restoring "the balanced image of God in students," and thus "education must be seen as a
redemptive act". The work of the teacher, therefore, goes beyond imparting knowledge through skilled
instruction. "The role of the teacher is ministerial and pastoral in the sense that the teacher is leading young
people into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ". It is also pastoral in the sense that young people, once
redeemed, are taught to obey and be transformed into Christlikeness. Reggie McNeal (2000) refers to the call
as one of God's ways to shape the heart of His leaders. The call is a "specific setting aside by God to some
special lifelong task in His Kingdom." God brings the "talents and skills of the marketplace to bear in Kingdom
enterprise". McNeal refers to God's part as initiating, guiding, positioning, and intervening. It is our
responsibility to hear, respond, search, order, and reorder. Christian school educators who are called can testify
to the reality of this process, and it is this reality that is the "bedrock" of our work. When a person operates
within the area of his or her calling, there is an anointing of the work. This anointing is the energizing work
of the Holy Spirit, and it not only enables and sustains the servant but also produces the fruit. McNeal writes,
"God has sovereignly bestowed his power to do his work. You know that your effectiveness when anointed
goes way past what you alone can produce. And you would be terrified to face the future without it"
In Psalm 90, God through Moses reminds us of the brevity of life. We indeed are like grass that is new
in the morning but dry and withered by evening. In light of how quickly life slips away, Moses suggests a
fitting response. We are to realize the importance of our days by numbering each of them, pray that we will
find satisfaction while it is yet morning, and pray that the work of our hands be established. Pray for calling
among the uncalled. Pray for the establishment of our calling, and pray that many students within our school
will be called to teach while it is yet morning.
