The authority of teacher Cover Image

Autorytet nauczyciela
The authority of teacher

Author(s): Irena Sławińska
Subject(s): Cultural history
Published by: Fundacja »Lubelska Szkoła Filozofii Chrześcijańskiej«
Keywords: authority; teacher; classical culture; Western civilization

Summary/Abstract: The authoress analyzes the constantly repeated slogan of the universal crisis of authority, including that authority which in the past pertained to the teacher of primary school or that of university. She refers to her own experiences of student, teacher, and professor. She points to moral requirements which are crucial for the authority of teacher. These requirements consist of generosity and disinterestedness – most combined with the requirement of self-education, genuine love to the subject and profession conceived as the social service and vocation, as well as respect and affection to the young human beings. She also asks what undermines the authority of teacher. Among reasons of its weakness she indicates poor intellectual equipment, short scientific horizons, financial interests, and also such moral vices as hubris, self-adoration, demonstrative intellectual superiority, and all the forms of humiliating students.

  • Issue Year: 2011
  • Issue No: 22
  • Page Range: 229-233
  • Page Count: 5
  • Language: Polish