A teacher's perspective

I recently read this snippet from a talk Michael Wesch gave and wanted to share it with you. I think it has the capacity to change how one teaches. It's not new information, but it hit a chord in me when I read it, maybe it will with you too:

"I was trying to get a job. My job interview was to teach an anthro class with 400 students and teachers watching. And my wife told me about Diana Degarmo. She was talented, but inexperienced. She was horrible for the first three weeks, and then became a rock star and went almost to the end. They asked what happened. She said, her hairdresser said, "Love your audience and they'll love you back." Instead of focusing on self, she focused on the beauty of the audience and the whole event. And I allowed myself to do the same thing.

I never let that leave me. I would start with that. I would start with loving my students. And it's striking how much my teaching has changed in five years, as a result of that. It's basically about shifting from getting people to love you, to you loving them. It has four parts (Fromm, 1956):
- caring
- responsibility
- respect
- knowledge

It requires all four. For example, caring without the rest is like patronizing. Respect without the rest is idolizing. The four together are true long. And focusing on that, instead of focusing on your performance, opens you up to your audience. It makes the walls go away."