I outline the skills at length in subsequent paragraphs. A commitment to every student s learning. Enthusiasm and passion for subject matter and knowledge. Each of these relates both to the science and the ethics of teaching. Over the past 20 or so years, we have probably underestimated the ability of our young people to perform at high levels.
Low expectations breed low performance.
Evidence for this exists across multiple contexts. In addition, there is ample evidence that irrelevant characteristics such as student social class, ethnic heritage, and gender have affected learning outcomes for students. The effects have been caused by a complex interaction of socially produced obstacles to learning that systematically have disadvantaged some of our citizens. A teacher s love of the subject area and contagious excitement about the lifelong task of becoming an educated person are vital. Many students report being swept toward certain careers on the basis of one teacher who lit a fire of joy at being involved with certain knowledge bases.