‘Credential Teachers?’

I have read the editorial with some disappointment.

The editors, as well as innumerable academicians, hold the belief that a teacher, in order to be an effective one, should have the knowledge of the subject matter, as well as the knowledge of how to teach well.

I am certainly in favor of the first requisite, but I am not too sure about the second one.

People generally think that the art of good teaching consists of a set of rules: Do this, do that, etc. In short, these people reduce the art to good teaching to a formula to be learned or memorized. Here lies the main fault.

The art of good teaching is not like a suit that everyone can wear: It depends on the teacher’s personality, and the teacher’s personality, in order to be successful, must have the following traits:

1. The good teacher must have enthusiasm because nothing great is accomplished without enthusiasm.

2. The good teacher must project his personality: a sense of humor, vivacity, etc.

3. The good teacher must love his students because only through love we are able to convince people. Once a student knows that he is loved, he will be more disposed toward learning: The fire of passion must be infused into the student’s mind so as to break his inertia and force it to will.

Unless a teacher can encompass all these three things, he will not achieve the effect of persuasion: He can take all the courses on art of teaching, but he will be powerless to convince.

ANGELO A. DE GENNARO

Los Angeles