Srule's Educational Philosophy

Educational Philosophy Srule Brachman, Ed.S

“Teach who you are!”- Parker Palmer

I am a visual artist and an educator; I view the classroom as the studio, and education as a painting or canvas in process. The student is the artist. It is all about building a relationship and a conversation between the painter and the painting. It is a give and take. A push and pull dynamic. Always tugging, pushing and pulling at the boundaries of the canvas to go a bit further for those ‘intellectual and creative leaps, or ‘ah ah!’ moments. This is what education is about. What is taught and learned are also a dance; two steps forward, two steps back; success and less success. Sometimes it’s a waltz, sometimes the twist, maybe the ‘moonwalk’. Just as there are different styles of dance, writing, painting, etc; students have different learning and working styles. It is imperative that teaching and learning be differentiated to respect and meet the needs of all students. Project based learning is a creative and hands on practice that allows for differentiation in the most creative ways.

The educational relationship is about growing an individual into a learner- an empathetic individual who is a participant in the world. The ‘constant’ learner is a person who grows and finds their place in the world as one who serves for the benefit of themselves and the community. As a painting is constructed from the experiences the artist brings to the canvas, so does the student bring to the world experiences that only the student can ‘paint’. The student creates his/her own knowledge using these experiences, thus making the knowledge ‘authentic’, relevant, or real to the student. This is considered a Constructivist approach. In the Constructivist method, the curriculum is ‘emergent’. This means that it grows in depth and breadth as the student grows creatively, emotionally, intellectually and developmentally. This is the continuing creative educational process. It is the ‘conversation’ of the artist/student.

The foundations of a painting are the stretcher bars, canvas, and primer. The foundations of a student’s education are the family experiences and the early communal experiences of pre-school and early childhood education. If the foundation is well built and thoughtfully constructed, the work of art that is the student will colorfully flourish and grow; always communicating new wonders as does the painting - always giving us something new to see and reflect on.

Creativity Rebuilds Community
Creativity equalizes relationships among the community.
Creativity sparks active participation through social interaction
Creativity energizes a flow of communication
Creativity acts as a catalyst of community
Creativity begins the process and product of the school as the Center of Expertise within the community
Creativity is risk taking in its most sensitive state
Creativity produces self reflection needed for growth
Creativity is experimentation which enables a broader view of the world
Creativity builds the truth which leads to life-long relationships


Learning Styles, Emotional and Multiple Intelligences, Differentiated Instruction, Project based and Child Centered educational practice, Reggio Emilia and Waldorf methods, developmentally appropriate classroom practice, integrated thematic units, arts integrated instruction, Site Based and Parent involved school structures, “Servant Leadership” by modeling, professional development, trust, empathy, Concept based instruction, Rudolph Steiner, Viktor Frankl, Howard Gardner, Deborah Meier, Piaget, Erikson, Vygotsky, Dewey, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, Jung, Stravinsky, Monk, Pollock, Twain, Sergiovanni, Palmer, “Mo, Larry and Curly”, Pinky Lee, Lucille Ball, Zero Mostel….
….I could fill a book with all the creative and rich ideas and people that have informed my career. As a compassionate and empathetic progressive educator, I am firm in my belief that a creative Constructivist education will produce thinkers, creators, humorists, and humanists… people we sorely need.



“ I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” - Chinese proverb



Srule Brachman, Ed.S
505-690-1113