"That is a secondary teacher conception - the writer as an observer"
- Peter Bichsel
About this Quote
This quote by Peter Bichsel is referring to the idea of a teacher as an observer. This suggests that the teacher is not actively associated with the knowing procedure, however rather is a passive observer of the trainee's knowing. The instructor is not actively teaching, but rather is observing the trainee's development and supplying feedback. This remains in contrast to the main teacher conception, which is more active and includes the instructor actively teaching and assisting the student. The secondary teacher conception is more passive and allows the trainee to take the lead in their own learning. This quote is stressing the significance of enabling the trainee to take ownership of their own learning and to be an active participant in the knowing procedure.
"I went to school at this log school house. A white woman was my teacher, I do not remember her name. My father had to pay her one dollar a month for me. Us kids that went to school did not have desks, we used slates and set on the hued down logs for seats"
"I always wanted to go to the Chavez school but I could never afford it when I was growing up so a lot of my learning came from magic books and watching other magicians. I was also very lucky that I had a couple of really good magic teachers"
"We need to redefine the role of the teacher from that of the transmitter of knowledge to that of a researcher, co-learner, and partner in the process of constructing knowledge"
"I have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist and that there are as few as there are any other great artists. Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit"
