Faculty & Learning Committee Proposals

The National Great Teachers Movement began in 1969 as a seminar whose purpose was to provide… an opportunity for teachers to improve their skills and to ponder and, if appropriate, to adjust their methods, behavior and attitude as teachers. It is based on the premises that teachers learn teaching best from one another and that creativity in teaching is enhanced by mixing teachers of diverse teaching fields, experience levels and interests.

The focus is not on the teaching of specific disciplines, but rather on the art of teaching as such. The emphasis is on the universals of teaching and on the special nature of those who are and will be great teachers. It is based also on the notion that, if properly tapped, the collective wisdom, experience and creativity of any group of practicing educators far surpasses that of any individual expert.

The Great Teachers Seminars are based on four premises:
  1. Teachers learn best from one another – properly facilitated shop-talk can be the highest form of faculty development.
  2. Creativity in teaching is enhanced by mixing diverse teachers.
  3. Collective wisdom, experience and creativity surpasses that of individual experts.
  4. The key to success in teaching is simplification.
 The stated purposes (from Peter Speier, Educational Development) of the Great Teachers Seminar are:
  • To celebrate good teaching.
  • To cause educators to venture beyond their specialized limits.
  • To promote an attitude of introspection and self-appraisal.
  • To practice rational analysis of instructional problems.
  • To stimulate the exchange of information and ideas by networking.
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