The Heart Of A Teacher

This article by Parker J Palmer discusses how teaching is about more than technique and more than knowing one's students, but also about knowing oneself and forming a deep connection to the job. My favourite part is when Palmer describes how three basic elements of teaching, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual, are all equally important. Palmer explains that reducing it down to just one of these elements does a disservice. I agree with this assessment. I find it unfortunate that many courses on teaching focus almost exclusively on the academic side of it. They treat the bare bones of what to teach and how as all there is to it, ignoring the human element. They forget that teachers have to deal with the emotional and spiritual ups and downs students have as well. Some education classes put more emphasis on the emotional and spiritual side of teaching but neglect the intellectual. There needs to be a balance between teaching the curriculum and understanding the spirit of the subject matter. We need to think not only about what students are learning, but what it means to them.