A teacher enlarges people in all sorts of ways besides just his

Wallace Stegner, the “Dean of Western Writers” and a man who understood both the vast landscapes of the earth and of the soul, once declared: “A teacher enlarges people in all sorts of ways besides just his subject matter.” In this simple yet profound statement, Stegner reveals the hidden majesty of teaching: that it is not confined to textbooks, nor bound by syllabi, but touches the very dimensions of a student’s being. The true teacher shapes not only the mind, but also the character, the imagination, and the moral compass of those who sit before him.

The origin of these words lies in Stegner’s own life. He himself was both a writer and a teacher, shaping generations of authors through his famed creative writing program at Stanford University. His students included the likes of Wendell Berry, Larry McMurtry, and others who carried his influence into the world. Stegner knew firsthand that while one may enter a classroom to learn about stories, history, or science, what one carries away is often far greater: a way of seeing, a way of thinking, even a way of being. Thus, he spoke with reverence about the role of the teacher, who enlarges the human spirit beyond the narrow scope of mere subject matter.

History gives us luminous proof of this truth. Recall Aristotle, who taught Alexander the Great. The young prince did not only learn philosophy and rhetoric — he learned how to see the world, how to weigh justice, how to envision empire. The mark of Aristotle was not only in Alexander’s strategies but in his very conception of himself and his role in history. The teacher had enlarged the student beyond lessons into destiny. So too does every true teacher, whether known or obscure, shape the future in ways unseen, planting seeds that bloom in generations yet to come.

We may also look to the story of Booker T. Washington, who as a boy was freed from slavery and thirsted for knowledge. When he entered the Hampton Institute, he encountered teachers who not only taught him reading and arithmetic but also discipline, dignity, and vision. These lessons carried him into a life where he himself became a teacher of thousands, founding Tuskegee Institute and enlarging a people oppressed, showing them not only skills but hope. This is Stegner’s truth: that the greatest power of the teacher lies not in transmitting facts, but in awakening the greatness of the human soul.

The lesson is clear: do not underestimate the reach of influence. A teacher may think he teaches algebra, but in truth he may be teaching perseverance. A history lesson may awaken a passion for justice. A science experiment may plant the seed of wonder that drives innovation. The visible subject is but the vessel; the invisible enlargement of the human person is the true gift. Thus, every teacher must act with awareness that he touches lives not just in mind, but in heart and destiny.

What, then, shall we practice? As teachers, let us live not only as conveyors of information but as examples of integrity, curiosity, and compassion. As students, let us be open not only to lessons of the subject, but to lessons of character, gleaning wisdom from the very way our guides live and speak. And as people, let us honor those who have enlarged us — mentors, parents, friends — who taught us not only with words, but with lives.

Therefore, O children of learning, remember Wallace Stegner’s words: the measure of a teacher is not confined to the subject he teaches, but in the enlargement of the human beings he touches. The nobility of teaching lies in this: that the world may forget the formulas or the dates, but it will never forget the courage awakened, the kindness instilled, the vision inspired. A true teacher does not merely instruct; he transforms. And such transformation is the greatest inheritance we can give to the generations yet to come.