The Skillful Teacher

Ask Yourself If the Resistance Is Justified
As mentioned previously, we should not jump to the automatic con-
clusion that resistance is a symptom of truculence, boorishness, or
laziness. Think about your own autobiography—haven’t there been
times when your resistance to new learning has been justified? You
should at least consider the possibility that if you felt that your resis-
tance was principled, then that displayed by your students might be
just as reasonable in their eyes. If the only justification for learning
that students hear is that institutional routine, history, or protocol
require it, and if students are being asked to work at too advanced
a level with no introductory preparation, it would be surprising if
extensive resistance did not exist. When we ask ourselves “Why do
my students need to know this?” we should not have to wait long
for a strong and convincing response to suggest itself. If you can’t
come up with one, then the chances are good that any resistance
displayed is, indeed, justified.