Authority Quote by Gilbert Highet
“At certain times and in certain schools it is orthodox to be a rebel; and in general it is a very poor class that does not contain at least three pupils who can be counted on to oppose the teachers authority and loudly and persistently to question everything he says.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Role of Rebellion in Education, 1955
A healthy learning environment needs a few outspoken students who challenge authority and provoke critical thinking, otherwise the class becomes stagnant.
In simple terms: Rebels keep education lively and critical.
Key Takeaway
Encourage constructive dissent.
Themes
education
authority
critical thinking
rebellion
classroom
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
educational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- classroom discussions
- student activism
- teacher training
Key Concepts
pedagogy
social dynamics
intellectual freedom
Questions to Reflect On
- What balance of dissent is optimal?
- How can teachers foster respectful challenge?
A Different Perspective
Too many rebels can cause chaos.
![“The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the formulas of nations at war, where any heinousness is justified on the grounds that the enemy is either an inferior [part of the] species or…” quote by Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/895/kate-millett-7301_accompany_the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imp_8896.jpg)