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Those that can't do... Teaching is a skill. An expert typist typing "the fox jumps over the lazy dog" at 30 wpm doesn't make one a good teacher.

amichail 2y ago
Isn't it better to have an expert who is a mediocre teacher than an excellent teacher with only a mediocre command of the subject matter?
- dave4420 2y ago
  Why not pay the money to get excellent teachers with a good command of the subject matter?
  - amichail 2y ago
    Because maybe most people with good command of the subject matter don't want to teach?
    - pavel_lishin 2y ago
      Do you think they'll become good teachers when they're forced to be there against their will?
    - dave4420 2y ago
      If teaching paid as well as being an accountant, or whatever expert occupation you have in mind, I think you’d find that many more experts would be open to teaching.
- wryoak 2y ago
  It depends on the student being taught. Most (HS) students will do better with the excellent teacher than the subject matter expert. Perhaps what you actually want is for unusually bright or creative students to have access to experts? Maybe some sort of opportunity to observe and even help them in their field? Perhaps we could call it something that doesn’t sound anything like the activity in question, something like “interning.”
- nullindividual 2y ago
  > Isn't it better to have an expert who is a mediocre teacher than an excellent teacher with only a mediocre command of the subject matter? Suppose we suppose to suppose. An expert visiting a classroom with a competent teacher would be the best thing -- the teacher can provide direction and control over the class as well as assist with prep. A Boeing machinist specializing in door plugs might make for a dry presentation. But a Boeing machinist specializing in door plugs who has the help of a good physics/engineering class teacher to lay out a lesson plan would probably be pretty fun.
- pavel_lishin 2y ago
  That's a very difficult question to answer - but I'd say, "no", especially for the younger grades. Most of what's being taught is how to learn - and knowing how to teach is the hard part.
- JohnFen 2y ago
  I think it depends on the how advanced the class is. An excellent teacher with mediocre subject matter expertise will outperform a subject matter expert with mediocre teaching skills in all but pretty advanced courses. Also, my experience is that most experts aren't mediocre teachers, they're terrible teachers.

amichail 2y ago

Isn't it better to have an expert who is a mediocre teacher than an excellent teacher with only a mediocre command of the subject matter?

dave4420 2y ago
Why not pay the money to get excellent teachers with a good command of the subject matter?
- amichail 2y ago
  Because maybe most people with good command of the subject matter don't want to teach?
  - pavel_lishin 2y ago
    Do you think they'll become good teachers when they're forced to be there against their will?
  - dave4420 2y ago
    If teaching paid as well as being an accountant, or whatever expert occupation you have in mind, I think you’d find that many more experts would be open to teaching.
wryoak 2y ago
It depends on the student being taught. Most (HS) students will do better with the excellent teacher than the subject matter expert. Perhaps what you actually want is for unusually bright or creative students to have access to experts? Maybe some sort of opportunity to observe and even help them in their field? Perhaps we could call it something that doesn’t sound anything like the activity in question, something like “interning.”
nullindividual 2y ago
> Isn't it better to have an expert who is a mediocre teacher than an excellent teacher with only a mediocre command of the subject matter? Suppose we suppose to suppose. An expert visiting a classroom with a competent teacher would be the best thing -- the teacher can provide direction and control over the class as well as assist with prep. A Boeing machinist specializing in door plugs might make for a dry presentation. But a Boeing machinist specializing in door plugs who has the help of a good physics/engineering class teacher to lay out a lesson plan would probably be pretty fun.
pavel_lishin 2y ago
That's a very difficult question to answer - but I'd say, "no", especially for the younger grades. Most of what's being taught is how to learn - and knowing how to teach is the hard part.
JohnFen 2y ago
I think it depends on the how advanced the class is. An excellent teacher with mediocre subject matter expertise will outperform a subject matter expert with mediocre teaching skills in all but pretty advanced courses. Also, my experience is that most experts aren't mediocre teachers, they're terrible teachers.