Letters: My Favorite Teacher: Does Gender Make a Difference?

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Regarding the essay by Jennifer Finney Boylan on the impact of teacher gender on student learning ("One Classroom, Two Genders," Op-Ed, Sept. 10): In addition to gender association there are some key qualities that have stood out in my experience.

My daughter's favorite and best teacher in high school was male, a teacher of history. He taught her how to write and how to express herself. My son's most influential teacher last year was a man, a scientist; this year, another scientist as it happens, and she is female. My own personal best teacher has been my husband, and my professional mentor is female.

What is constant among all of these is believable expertise, honesty, directness and genuine goodness. There is no malice, just purpose and good will.

ELIZABETH KANEKO
Somerville, N.J., Sept. 10, 2013

To the Editor:

I still remember my high school composition teacher crumpling up my essay and aiming it at the wastebasket with the cry, "Garbage!" My female classmates and I were amused and inspired, not intimidated, by his teaching style. Although Jennifer Finney Boylan may see gender everywhere, projecting sex stereotypes onto the practices of teaching and learning is not helpful to women who continue to face subtle barriers to full recognition as professionals.