There’s an expression in education known as “teaching to the middle.” This means gearing the majority of instruction and curriculum towards students performing at grade level or in the middle of the class.

I’ve never cared for this concept since I believe it produces a mediocre mindset in teaching, and thus, mediocre results.  Rather, I resonate with the idea of teaching to the top of of the class, which means setting the bar high and expecting students to eventually meet those...

It always amazes me when teachers don’t pay attention or act respectively during faculty meetings. Sometimes, teachers can make the most difficult students. During my time as a k-12 teacher, while a principal was speaking to the faculty, some teachers would be on their cell phones, talking among themselves, or grading papers.

It’s also surprising (though, a little less considering their stage of development) when student teachers fail to turn in assignments on time or, similarly, act...