Tensions of teaching

The acts of teaching often occur under conditions of tension. This essay at tempts to describe some of these tensions and the effects they might have o n the experiences of the classroom. Values, knowledge, time, audience, rewa rds, standards, evaluations, privacy, and the situation of teaching are som e of the elements among these tensions. It is likely that all teachers will experience them in different ways. However, teaching has its motives and r easons, and there are behaviors teachers can bring to the classroom that ex plore and use tensions in order to move learners forward. The essay conclud es by suggesting some of these behaviors.(1)