Stephen Toope

Information is more readily accessible than ever before, and in an increasing variety of media. Yet what passes for "information" is often unreliable or inauthentic. A central challenge for teachers today -- especially teachers in professional faculties -- is to let go of our self-image as purveyors of information, filling eager minds with what they "need to know" to succeed in a future career.

For most students, the greatest need is not information, but rigorous guidance on how to sift, organize, evaluate and criticize the masses of information with which they are bombarded daily. Fostering critical capacity goes hand in hand with helping to open up vistas of opportunity. In a fast-changing world, the new Cartesian motto might be "I think therefore I can become."

As has probably always been true, the teaching that seems to matter most is not lecturing (a form of theatre), but accompanying -- walking with students as they begin to discover the places where they can make a difference in the world. I am still inspired by To Sir With Love!