The teacher is indispensable. Teaching as a Social Process. From Educom Review , May-June 1999. The common stereotypes of teacher as sage or guide don't capture the social value of teaching. They make it appear that teachers can be replaced by machines.
Teachers are representatives of professional communities.
Students look to them for access to those communities and for assistance in becoming professionals themselves. On Active and Passive Writing . A short essay written in 1984 decrying the use of passive voice in much writing and offering active guidance. Workflow and Commerce Completing the Loops. Science of Computing Passwords.