Authority is attached to every position in which people operate. It doesn’t matter what the businesses, from manufacturing to dealing with people, for authority is universal.

I believe there are two kinds of authority; it doesn’t matter what occupation you have or position you feel or job you do, either one or the other of those “authorities“ identifies the person in the position.

There is “ascribed authority“. That is the power attached to the position by the system, whether private or public, under which the person is employed. The source tells the person what can or cannot be done and how that position should be filled in terms of outcomes.

The second is “acquired authority“. This authority is what the person in the position requires or gains from how they are perceived by those with whom they work. It is the regard held for the person who is in the position by those with who they are working.

A good teacher meets the teaching obligations prescribed by the teaching authority and the school. Such teachers are meeting the obligations imposed at the system level, which satisfies the ascribed authority attached to the position.

But that is only half the story, and, I believe, the small half.

A great teacher is a person who meets system requirements but also aquires authority bequeathed to them and based on respect and appreciation held for how the educator identifies with students, parents and the community at large. These teachers are “people-oriented “. They are not just there to do the job and teach according to the curriculum but rather to meet the needs of every child or student, personalising that teaching toward them to meet their needs.

These teachers offer challenges to students and have high expectations for them. They are also empathetic, caring in a strong pastoral way and willing to help students who need assistance. That help aims to give students confidence to make decisions and to appreciate what they are doing as being for their benefit. It’s not a case of taking over and doing the students work: Rather, being there as a guiding hand supporting students as they go forward.

Finally from an Australian viewpoint I believe that A Great Teacher is one who teaches with recall to The Melbourne Declaration of Education agreed by all Australian Ministers of Education and Directors in 2008.

That declaration urged educators be aware of the need for “holistic education“, education taking account not only of academic progress but offering children and students a chance to grow in a social and moral/spiritual sense. So academic achievement is entwined with personal growth. And that personal growth takes account of perceptions and awareness the children and students should have not only for themselves but for others.

Great teachers, I salute you.