This can certainly blur the line of a one-education-style-fits- all concept of teaching.
Bates go on to state that, 'reciprocality between rules mean that the performance of one row implies and requires the performance of the other.' This implies that the teacher speaks and students simply learn, and that is the extent of the roles of performance required. Unfortunately Bates limits the word 'reciprocality' here in that while there is give and take there is no change or adaptation that is also a requirement of teachers in the current educational environment. Self-reflection has become an almost mandatory requirement for teachers to undergo. By assessing their teaching styles and monitoring their results through the student's grades, teachers have to be able to change their styles and methods to fit the needs of their students. This is the concept that is missing from the Bates article. Interaction needs to result in change for both parties, not just one. The process of education has become now, and possibly forever changed to, an interactive process between student and teacher. Teachers even employ role reversal as a technique to for both themselves and the students to learn how the 'other side' thinks and works. This creates the much needed empathy and compassion from both sides of the process, which creates a successful educational environment.
While one would certainly agree with Bates that there is a...
Teachers who assume this standpoint rarely explain the information they are passing out and simply require memorization of predetermined information. If they did that could lead to students actually questioning that information and by inference challenge their role as teacher. While there are certainly some of this breed of teacher left, they will have little choice but to eventually give way to a more interactive and co-educational environment in the present state of education. Society now insists upon it.
One of the progenitors of this insistence is the state of diversity previously mentioned that almost all classrooms find themselves an involved in. Students are sharing classroom space with other students and teachers that may have varied cultural beliefs and practices. The teacher must understand and change with them as well as the students with each other. This can cause the teacher to play different roles as required varying teaching style, the act of communicating, etc. As the interaction develops. However, if one had to try and give a single definition to the role of teacher while still circumventing Bates' restrictions, one could say that the teacher's role in the class is to create different educational encounters as required by his or her students.
