Chapter 7, The Mystery of Teaching Summary and Analysis

The work of a teacher is intellectual and ethical. It is the vocation of vocations and requires knowledge of many other callings. It is both practical and transcendent and both matter-of-fact and creative. Teaching in many ways is a mystery. One must have an intimate encounter with teaching.

Teaching isn't merely something a teacher learns to do once and for all. It is a lifelong learning project. Teaching in many ways requires constantly starting over. Teaching is not merely external or final. To be a great teacher, one must struggle with one's autobiography and always pursue the next performance or encounter. Individual teachers should engage in creative insubordination, self-criticism, finding allies, learning from their own experience, linking their consciousness to their conduct, finding authentic friends, and learning both balance and clarity.

Good schools...