20. Those who can, do. Those who can do more, teach.

I have always pushed back against the old adage, “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach,” because it profoundly misses the point. Teaching transcends mere content knowledge; it requires an acute awareness of others, a genuine investment in their success, and the capacity to inspire real learning and growth.

This cynical outlook is a relatively modern invention, starkly contrasting with how history’s greatest minds viewed the profession. As Aristotle famously observed, “Those who know, do. Those that understand, teach.” In this view, teaching is not a refuge for the incapable; it is the ultimate realization of true understanding. To simply “do” requires skill, but to teach requires a structural comprehension so deep that you can illuminate it for someone else. Great teachers do exactly this, balancing deep expertise with the ability to take an entire classroom on a learning journey. For educators, this truth unfolds daily in the classroom. The moment a student can clearly articulate a concept to a peer, genuine understanding is unlocked. By prioritizing collaboration over passive listening, teachers create an environment where knowledge is not merely memorized, but collectively owned and expanded.

Teachers need to let the toxicity of “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach,” roll off their backs. They need to know that what they do in their classroom is far more important than people truly know. Teachers need to stand tall with the knowledge that they are shaping our future, loving and caring for children, inspiring and motivating minds as well as giving everyone a safe space to learn and grow.

That is the job. That is why teachers are so desperately needed and their work is priceless. Yet, we are losing incredible educators every day because the system asks them to give until they have nothing left. We cannot afford to lose any teacher who does this work. If burnout is stealing our best minds from the classroom, then we need to solve the burnout problem—and we need to solve it now.

Let’s start by officially retire the old phrase. It’s time to print the new standard on coffee mugs, classroom posters, and t-shirts. Better yet, let’s make sure the next time someone says “those who can’t, teach,” we gently hand them a lesson plan and wish them the best of luck. Thanks for reading! kim