I like to read people’s ideas. Sometimes, it doesn’t even matter what the topic is, except perhaps for such things as Internet marketing analytics and reality shows about people who don’t seem to ever actually work. Ever. Here are ten ideas about teaching from Bertrand Russell (1872-1970), the late British philosopher, mathematician, historian, and social critic.
In a 1951 issue of The New York Times Sunday Magazine, Russell summed up ten ideas about the essence of being a good teacher and, just as importantly, a good thinker. I have taken the liberty of editing Russell where necessary (changes in italics) and explaining how I think his ideas fit in an elementary classroom. Tell me what you think…
1. Do not feel absolutely certain of anything. – Do you know a good elementary teacher who is?
2. Do not think it worthwhile to proceed by concealing evidence, for the evidence is sure to come to light. – Especially in a roomful of amateur sleuths, as elementary students naturally are.
3. Never try to discourage thinking, for you are sure to succeed. – A teacher’s job is to encourage students’ thinking at all times, especially critical thinking.
4. When you meet with opposition, even from your students, endeavor to overcome it by argument and not by authority, for a victory dependent on authority is unreal and illusory. – Teach your students the value of thinking critically, even about the ideas and people they might not otherwise question.
5. Have no respect for the authority of others, for there are always contrary authorities to be found. – This does not mean it is okay to be impolite, but to be critically skeptical of authority and be prepared to challenge it from an informed, respectful position.
6. Do not use your power to suppress opinion you think pernicious, for if you do, the opinions will suppress you. – Translated: you’ll always reap what you sow. Plant positive seeds!
7. Do not be afraid of having an eccentric opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric. – Allow your students to be themselves, allow yourself to be the teacher you want to be.
8. Find more pleasure in intelligent dissent than in passive agreement, for, if you value intelligence as you should, the former implies a deeper agreement than the latter. – This does not mean you should always be in disagreement, but that, when you do disagree with something, embrace the disagreement and your reasoning fully and intelligently.
9. Be scrupulously truthful, even if the truth is inconvenient, for it is more inconvenient when you try to conceal it. – Value truthfulness, even when the truth hurts.
10. Do not feel envious of the happiness of those who live in a fool’s paradise, for only a fool will think it is happiness. – Don’t kid yourself.
As always, I invite and welcome your input. What do you think of Russell’s ideas about teaching?