In this column, Charles Blow of The New York Times emphasized how
one teacher can change a life. Please notice that he does NOT discuss anything about the textbook that the teacher used. He does not talk about the specifics of what she taught. He remembers the relationship. He remembers a person who believed in him. That teacher was the person who helped his own abilities and intellect.
I have started this blog to discuss what I believe is the foremost task for all teachers: to develop a human relationship with students. As distance courses continue to help people gain access to information, it is critical, I believe, to explore the new role for teachers. Do we still need classrooms in the 21st Century? Why? If all information is already online; if every book ever written is gradually being scanned to Google books, what use are teachers?
The answer, of course, lies in the human connection that occurs between a teacher and a student. You can be exposed to information without learning it. You can have a high intellect and not use it. What inspires us to explore, learn and create? Other people: teachers. The power is in the relationship. This blog will explore how that relationship works, how it can be improved, and how it must adapt to contemporary technology.
