the world is full of people who cannot wait to tell you what they know (thoughts on teacherly greatness from Michael Sokolove)

As my work week begins with a long drive to York on behalf of a client, I leave you all with these words from Michael Sokolove, in Drama High, about Lou Volpe, the extraordinary teacher of theater arts at Truman, in Levittown, PA.

Sokolove is reflecting on what makes a teacher great. It is a lesson for us all.

He does not tell her how. He never does. It is the essential aspect of his genius as an educator. The world is full of people who cannot wait to tell you what they know. What animates Volpe is creating moments for his kids to figure it out for themselves. His ego, though not small, allows for great patience. Very few high school directors could be more versed in theater, more knowing about what the finished product should look like. But he lets his kids find their own way there.