ABSTRACT
Having made such a statement, I scurry to the dictionary to see if I really mean what I say. Teaching means ‘to instruct’. Personally, I am not much interested in instructing another in what she should know or think, though others seem to love to do this. ‘To impart knowledge or skill’. My reaction is, why not be more efficient, using a book or programmed learning? ‘To make to know’. Here my hackles rise. I have no wish to make anyone know something. ‘To show, guide, direct’. As I see it, too many people have been shown, guided, directed. So I come to the conclusion that I do mean what I said. Teaching is, for me, a relatively unimportant and vastly overvalued activity.
