Introduction

This book is for those teachers, teacher educators and intending teachers who have a passion for their teaching; who love learners, learning and the teaching life; who acknowledge that teaching is not only about intellectual and emotional engagement with others-whether pupils, colleagues or parents-but also intellectual and emotional engagement with self through regular review and renewal of purposes and practices. It is intended as a contribution to understanding and improving the teaching profession and to bring new insights to the work and lives of teachers. It is also a celebration and an acknowledgement of the various forms of intellectual, physical, emotional and in particular, passionate endeavour in which teachers at their best engage and which form the core content of the book. It is for all those who recognize the limitations of reform that is only externally driven and who passionately assert the broader values and moral responsibilities that are internally driven and embedded in and expressed through good teaching.