ABSTRACT
We all have images of inspirational teachers. They come from many sources – from personal experience, from literature, from the media – and, if we set out to be teachers ourselves, those are often the models that we carry with us, especially at the beginning. Indeed, the most common reason given by young people for becoming teachers is that they were inspired by memorable individuals and now want to inspire others. More generally, the public has views about exciting teachers – they are eccentric, confident, creative and, of course, charismatic. There is an entire Hollywood sub-genre focused on teachers who make extraordinary breakthroughs in challenging circumstances. They make mouldbreaking, institution-threatening relationships with young people which result in triumphant, filmic successes in sport, music and even, sometimes, poetry.
