James Laing of Assumption College gives thanks that he teaches college instead of relatively chaotic high school, where he observes – and respects the fortitude of – student teachers. (The Chronicle of Higher Education, “Classroom Transparency,” April 2)
From this experience Laing draws two lessons: The best teachers at all levels explain to students why the classroom material makes them better people, and the best teaching is “transparent,” that is, it displays openness about the reasons for the main decisions about a course (choice of texts, rationale for grading, etc.)