The Act of Teaching
2020
Reflections on a Basic Human Act
The Act of Teaching answers an important but seldom asked question: What does it mean to teach someone something? Most books that say they are about teaching discuss only the special form of teaching that occurs in a classroom.
This book traces two philosophical traditions from ancient times to the present. One tradition assumes a group of people who are the teachers and others who are the learners. The second tradition recognizes all human beings. And, at least, some nonhumans, as engaged in teaching and learning. This tradition is more comprehensive in meaning and more practical in application.
The meaning of teaching in this second tradition is showing someone how to do something. Teaching begins with the way a mother cares for a child and speaks to a child. A child learns by responding to its parents and to other people in its environment. Every individual continues throughout life to learn from teachers, who are often unaware, that they are teaching. Most teaching is communal and nonverbal.
Teaching in the context of a school is not the main topic of this book. Nevertheless, schoolteachers might find many of this book's examples of teaching, learning to be a valuable source for reflection on their own work.
This book traces two philosophical traditions from ancient times to the present. One tradition assumes a group of people who are the teachers and others who are the learners. The second tradition recognizes all human beings. And, at least, some nonhumans, as engaged in teaching and learning. This tradition is more comprehensive in meaning and more practical in application.
The meaning of teaching in this second tradition is showing someone how to do something. Teaching begins with the way a mother cares for a child and speaks to a child. A child learns by responding to its parents and to other people in its environment. Every individual continues throughout life to learn from teachers, who are often unaware, that they are teaching. Most teaching is communal and nonverbal.
Teaching in the context of a school is not the main topic of this book. Nevertheless, schoolteachers might find many of this book's examples of teaching, learning to be a valuable source for reflection on their own work.