William Arthur Ward - The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires
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Welcome to The Daily Quote—a podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, and today is October 5th.
Today happens to be World Teachers' Day, a day to celebrate the people who shape our minds, guide our growth, and occasionally assign way too much homework. Whether you loved school or survived it with coffee and prayers, I think we can all agree that teachers play an enormous role in our lives.
So, in honor of World Teachers' Day, let’s turn to a quote that captures the essence of what makes a great teacher. It comes from William Arthur Ward, who said:
“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”
Now, that’s a quote that gets straight to the point. Teaching isn’t just about delivering information—it’s about sparking curiosity, lighting that mental fire. I think we’ve all had those “mediocre” teachers who just stood at the front of the class and read from the textbook, right? Nothing too exciting there. But the great teachers, the ones we still think about years later—they’re the ones who made us feel like we were part of something bigger, part of the adventure of learning itself.
Ward’s quote reminds us that teaching is an art. It’s not just about getting through the lesson plan—it’s about connecting with people, making knowledge come alive. A good teacher explains things, sure, but a great teacher? They make you want to learn more. They make you see the potential in yourself that you never knew was there.
Today we are moving into uncharted territory... In most fields adequate work will be replaced by AI Agents. If you do an 'ok' job, you won't be able to compete with AI.
There are companies and organizations that are democratizing education by bringing world class education to poor people around the world using AI.
But great teachers can connect with people better than a robot can. The teacher that inspires can not be replaced by AI... at least not yet.
So, today, whether you’re a teacher yourself, or just remembering one who left a lasting impression, take a moment to appreciate the way education shapes us. And if you really want to honor your old teachers, maybe reach out to one and say thanks—just don’t ask for extra credit, that ship has sailed.
Alright, that wraps up today’s episode. I hope this quote gives you some inspiration to carry with you, and maybe even a new appreciation for the educators around you.
I’m Andrew McGivern signing off, and I’ll see you tomorrow for another Daily Quote.