THE ART OF TEACHING

GILBERT HIGHET Gilbert Highet The Art of Teaching This book is called The Art of Teaching because I believe that teaching is an art, not science. It seems to me very dangerous to apply the aims and methods of science to human beings as individuals, although a statistical principle can often be used to explain their behavior in large groups and a scientific diagnosis of their physical structure is always valuable. But a ‘scientific’ relationship between human beings is bound to be inadequate and perhaps distorted. Of course it is necessary for any teacher to be orderly in planning his work and precise in his dealing with facts. But that does not make his teaching ‘scientific.’ Teaching involves emotions, which cannot be systematically appraised and employed, and human values, which are quite outside the grasp of science. A ‘scientifically’ broughtup child would be a pitiable monster. A ‘scientific’ friendship would be as cold as a chess problem. ‘Scientific’ teaching, even of scientific subjects, will be inadequate as long as both teachers and pupils are human beings. Teaching is not like inducing a chemical reaction : it is much more like painting a picture or making a piece of music, or on a lower level like planting a garden or writing a friendly letter. You must throw your heart into it, you must realize that it cannot all be done by formulas, or you will spoil your work, and your pupils, and yourself.’’ –

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