Should Teachers Be Authentic?

• In Event: Roundtable Session 19
  In Roundtable Session: Philosophical Perspectives on Teaching

Abstract

Authenticity is touted as an important virtue for teachers. But what do we mean when we say that a teacher ought to be "authentic"? Often discussions of teacher authenticity refer to other character traits or simply to teacher effectiveness, but authenticity is a unique concept with a long philosophical history. Once we understand authenticity as an ethical and metaphysical question, the presumed connection between authenticity and teaching appears less solid. While being true to oneself may render it more likely that a teacher does her job well, there is also reason to believe that excellent teachers can be inauthentic and that terrible teachers can be authentic.

Authors

• Lauren Bialystok, University of Toronto - OISE

• Doron Yosef-Hassidim, University of Toronto - OISE