From Faith Middleton: What was it about good teachers, the ones we'll never forget, that made them good at what they did? We ask this in the interest of understanding what qualities and judgments are necessary to make a great teacher.
Good teachers sometimes come with little experience, as if there is something in their DNA that gives them the qualities necessary for making a difference.
Long-time UConn literature professor Gina Barreca talks with us about how she sees the necessary ingredients in a classroom, including how strict teachers need to be, how far a student can push before being pushed out the door, whether every disinterested student has the possibility of being saved in front of the right teacher, and what it takes to convince students it is in their interest to know and understand what they are about to read or hear.
Dr. Regina Barreca is the author or editor of many books, including It's Not That I'm Bitter…, newly revised and republished. She is a columnist for The Hartford Courant and Psychology Today, and speaks around the world. Read Gina's recent Huffington Post post, "Why State Universities Are Best."
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GUEST:
- Gina Barreca is a women's humorist, writer, speaker, and professor of feminist theory.
MUSIC:
- “Gne Gne,” Montefiori Cocktail
- “Love Dog,” TV on the Radio
- “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody),” Talking Heads
- “Hot for Teacher,” Richard Cheese