Build authority II!

Building teacherly authority

In any age the most effective teacherly authority is held by those people who are wise.  They embody the knowledge (what is) and practice (what ought to be) of their culture which affords them the ability to effortlessly do the right thing.

The cognitive scientist, John Vervaeke states that the average person has intelligence (a general problem-solving capability), which is largely fixed by genetics and early nurturing, and a body of learned knowledge and skills.  To move towards wisdom Vervaeke claims we need ‘rationality’ which is made up of three components: reason, care and insight.   We can apply our intelligence and knowledge in increasingly more culturally effective ways by practicing reason, care and insight.

These three components of rationality are first developed as we grow through childhood towards adulthood. Thus, a child is attracted to an adult who has these abilities giving the adult a level of teacherly authority at different stages of a child’s development.

A teacher who can provide insight into a child’s work and what they ought to do next is worth paying attention to.  A teacher who cares such that a child feels cared for and valued is worth hanging around.  A teacher who can reason and make good decisions is to be trusted.

If we ourselves only poorly developed these abilities as we were growing up, then we need to put in the work as adults to develop them.

This is how we can build teacherly authority.

I am presenting a webinar on Thursday 3rd March at 12 pm AEDT (click here to register) which will consider why the collection and use of student feedback is such an important tool for managing engagement.

John Corrigan is an expert in helping individuals to bring their whole of mind to their daily life and increase their effectiveness and the effectiveness of those around them. This expertise scales from the individual to the team to the organisation. At the core of this work is the practice of encounter.  Earlier blogs can be found here.

• To purchase a copy of Red Brain Blue Brain, Student Feedback or Why We Teach go here