There are a lot of people who claim to be teachers.
Some have certification from the state, some are followed as gurus, and
some offer their services with a "money back guarantee.” But, not one
of these qualifications means that a person is actually able to teach.
Whether or not you’re attending school, the need
will arise for you to find a teacher or mentor to help you on your
educational journey. You may need someone to guide you in your
understanding of great literature, show you how to lay brick, or help
you excel in your career.
Whenever you’re searching for help, make sure you
find someone who is a prepared to offer it. Over the last few years of
teaching and learning, I’ve discovered four traits all effective
educators have in common. Certificates and titles mean little when
compared to these attributes of a true teacher:
A True Teacher Has Knowledge, Not "Love”
As a high school English teacher, I met many fellow
educators who didn’t know much about their subjects at all. Nor did
they care to. They went to college, figured that English was an easy
enough major, and decided to teach when other jobs seemed out of their
reach. When asked why they choose teaching, generally the response would
be something along the lines of "Oh, I just love the kids.”
People who teach out of love are well intentioned.
But, they fail to have anything legitimate to offer. Sure, they may have
some superficial understanding. But, without true insight and
knowledge, their attempts at helping you develop such are futile.
When you’re looking for a spouse, choose someone
who loves you. When you’re looking for a teacher, choose someone who
knows what they’re talking about.
A True Teacher Shows You How to Think, Not What to Think
Math teachers do one thing right: they show
students how to complete similar problems using a formula or method.
When they put a problem on the board, it is used to demonstrate how the
equation is to be solved – not just give the solution to that one
problem. When math teachers give a test, most of the questions consist
of problems the students have never seen before. But, these teachers are
confident that the students will be able to answer the problems because
they have been taught the formula.
It would be outrageous for a math teacher to show
students how to complete just one problem. But, unfortunately, that’s
what educators do in many other disciplines.
When looking for a true teacher, it is essential
that you find someone who can show you how to think about a particular
subject instead of just what to think.
Let’s consider a lesson on literature…
A what-to-think teacher would tell you what the
themes of a book are. He might ask questions about what you noticed and
then say "The themes of this book are: love and betrayal.” When you are
finished with the lesson, you’ll know what to think about that one book.
A how-to-think teacher would help you understand
how an author develops a theme. He would discuss the literary devices
used to create meaning and how they work. When you are finished with the
lesson, you’ll know what the themes of that book are. But, you’ll also
know how to discover the themes in other books using the method you’ve
learned. This teacher understands that the book you’re studying is just a
tool to help you learn how to think about all books.
Seek how-to-think teachers in all your endeavors –
academic and professional. If you’re a real estate agent, seek a mentor
who will show you methods to evaluate and sell any house, not just the
one you’re discussing at the moment. If you’re a programmer, seek an
instructor who will help you learn how to approach any project, not just
hand you a line of code that works in a single situation.
A True Teacher Creates Peers, Not Fans
Almost everyone has been to a college course or
employee training session where the lecturer is talking "at” you instead
of to you. Sometimes these lessons are boring. But, sometimes they are
conducted with great charisma and charm. This is where the trouble
begins.
An exciting presentation or a pumped-up
conversation can be a starting point. But, don’t mistake charisma for
the ability to teach. Many self-proclaimed gurus make big
promises about the ways they can help you succeed, but have little to
offer in reality. They’re all pomp and circumstance, handshakes and
business cards. When it comes down to it, they don’t recognize you as
someone capable of meaningful thought. Instead, these false teachers are
all about building a fan club.
You can spot a true teacher by their willingness to
really hear you. True teachers will relate to you as a fellow human
being able to think on your own. They teach you to help you become a
peer, not to mold you into a loyal groupie.
The building of fan clubs is a common occurrence
both on college campuses and business world. Many graduates remember
that one beloved professor who had full classes and a massive ego.
Businessmen are often familiar with the boss who rewards yes-men and
strikes back at those who don’t put up with his antics. Beware of these
teachers and, instead, seek out someone with a mature enough perspective
to truly listen.
A True Teacher Helps You Find Autonomy, Not Dependence
When you find a true teacher, you won’t need him
forever. As a wise man once said: "A teacher is one who makes himself
progressively unnecessary.”
True teachers show pupils how to find the answers themselves and how to manage their own learning.
While all knowledge can’t be imparted in a single
session, a true teacher does not jealously guard his understanding. He
helps students learn as fast as they are able and stand on their own as
soon as they are ready.
In the same way that good parents must gradually
let go and allow children to learn on their own, good teachers must wean
their pupils from constant interaction. True teachers help their
students recognize their own abilities and autonomy. They prepare pupils
to succeed on their own. A true teacher may always be there for you,
but less as an educator and more as a friend.
Finding a True Teacher
It isn’t easy to find a teacher that has all of
these traits. But, the search is definitely worth it. Once you find a
true teacher, you’ll never settle for less.
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