Published: September 4, 1996

Letters

In response to the article "Buyer Beware," I would like to offer my encouragement to Nicholas Thacher, the teacher who told his colleagues at a professional development conference that teachers should admit to students when they can't answer a question.

Well, I say, Bully for you. What good student-teacher relationship can be built on deceit? It creates a false image that students will recognize as a front and will eventually do more harm than good. Honesty is the best policy in dealing with students and gaining their respect. For many kids who have no stable role models, an honest teacher they can trust will be invaluable. We as educators don't need to build more walls than already exist between...