Then I heard this genius teacher Stella Adler - I recommend you read anything you might find about her and if you have anyone interested in theatre you get them one of her books.

I didn't want to be the archetypal sponging brother-in-law so I didn't go into acting when I got to the States. I thought 'No I'll go to school and then I'll be an English teacher that'll be fun.' But I was horrible as a teacher. As hard as I tried I just couldn't inspire those kids to take an interest in Milton and Shakespeare and Donne.

In the ideal classroom the teacher is either spending all of their time doing deep interventions with students on a one-on-one basis or facilitating true interactivity - labs simulations projects.

I think there are so many ways to become interested in music. I believe signs of sustained interest gives a sense of the right time. Music if thought of as a language would perhaps indicate that as early as possible is not so bad. I do believe that a really nurturing first teacher that makes the child love something is crucial.

It was my family that wanted me to be a teacher. That was safe you see. To be a painter was terrible.

It is not easy to imagine how little interested a scientist usually is in the work of any other with the possible exception of the teacher who backs him or the student who honors him.

Prior to being allowed to enter the profession prospective teachers should be asked to talk with a group of friendly students for at least half an hour and be able to engage them in an interesting conversation about any subject the prospective teacher wants to talk about.

Teacher unions are an interest group that acts in defense of their own interests which means the union bosses' interests not the members.

A hallmark of the Latino community is to help one another if students are interested in a way to give back and help their communities becoming a teacher is probably one of the very best ways of doing that.

I don't really distinguish between sympathy and honesty when I'm writing. The two go together - I'm interested in inhabiting my characters seeing the world through their eyes.