March 18, 2004

Teaching

Anyone who has undertaken the responsibility to teach something to another human being has touched upon one of life's most rewarding experiences. Like most activities that promise great reward, there are serious dangers to avoid in teaching. For example, many come to teach with the queer notion that knowledge is like porridge to be spooned into the heads of students. Some learn the error in this fallacy and become teachers. Teachers understand that they are guides, facilitators, and catalysts to the learning process. They see that learning belongs to students (except for what they themselves may learn in the process of teaching). Great teachers come to understand that most of what they do consists of validating the experiences of their students and supporting them with approval, enthusiasm, and recognition so that they will be encouraged to take one more step into the unknown.

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