'Building a Better Teacher'

Here is an interesting article that I recently read in The New York Times Magazine discussing and investigating what characteristics make up a good teacher and how better teachers may solve many of the problems failing schools are facing today. While it doesn't present any conclusive answers, there are many interesting questions posed about what makes an effective teacher, and if nothing else, it is a thought provoking read. Of course, art or art teachers are not mentioned once in this article (sigh), and most of the research used is dependent on incessant standardized test taking (double sigh), but it's refreshing to see educators calling themselves out in a seemingly productive way. Get yourself a cup of coffee, because it's a long read, but well worth it.

'Building a Better Teacher,' NY Times Mag

Illustration by R. Kikuo Johnson, The New York Times Magazine (March 2, 2010)