Herein, some random thoughts toward a philosophy of teaching. Teaching is a communal and magical activity. I can think of no more joyous activity, none which brings more satisfaction than the opportunity to interact with bright young people who vacillate between thinking what you are doing is endlessly fascinating and challenging your every statement. Teaching is not standing up in front of a class and disclaiming Truths, nor is it mere showmanship. Teaching is working with small and large groups of students, advising them on matters related to their intellectual development as well as to their life, being an ethical role model for them, encouraging them to do their best work, to do more than they thought they could do, pushing, pulling, moving along with them into new areas of understanding.
Teaching is a privilege.
Teaching is research, that is, it is the active pursuit of new knowledge, new ideas, and new connections which can make fresh the daily venture into the unknown. I learn from my peers, as I hope they learn from me through my activity as a publishing scholar. Those new connections frequently get played out in the classroom where students can analyze and challenge them, thereby remaining fresh and open. Teaching is tolerance. It is the need to remain open to new thoughts while at the same time subjecting misguided, uninformed, or prejudiced views to scrutiny.