ERIC Number: EJ868263
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Dec
Pages: 21
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0010-096X
EISSN: N/A
Close to the Heart: Teacher Authority in a Classroom Community
VanderStaay, Steven L.; Faxon, Beverly A.; Meischen, Jack E.; Kolesnikov, Karlene T.; Ruppel, Andrew D.
College Composition and Communication, v61 n2 pW262-W282 Dec 2009
In this article we provide a "portrait" of an exemplary writing teacher and the social construction of authority he established with students in two courses. The portrait demonstrates that teacher authority is most essentially a form of professional authority granted by students who affirm the teacher's expertise, self-confidence, and belief in the importance of his or her work. We find that professional authority is neither oppressive nor incompatible with de-centered methods, effective instruction, or the kind of assertive teacher authority required to effectively lead a class. In this way, effective instruction and teacher authority become mutually reinforcing reciprocal processes.
Descriptors: Power Structure, Writing Teachers, Teacher Student Relationship, Classroom Environment, Student Attitudes, Research Methodology, Experienced Teachers, Classroom Research, Writing (Composition), Writing Research, Writing Instruction, College Instruction, Instructional Effectiveness, Teaching Methods, Gender Issues, Racial Factors
National Council of Teachers of English. 1111 West Kenyon Road, Urbana, IL 61801-1096. Tel: 877-369-6283; Tel: 217-328-3870; Web site: http://www.ncte.org/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Washington
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A