• Whats_your_reasoning@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      0
      ·
      8 days ago

      The original phrase is pretty lame anyway. If you can’t do a thing, how can you be expected to teach it? I’d rather have a teacher that actually knows how to do the thing they’re trying to teach me.

      • Chronographs@lemmy.zip
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        0
        ·
        8 days ago

        The saying isn’t trying to convey that people who can’t do something are well suited to teach it, it’s disparaging teachers by saying if they were any good at what they teach they would be doing it instead of teaching it.

      • rockerface🇺🇦@lemmy.cafe
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        0
        ·
        8 days ago

        Probably better phrasing would be “Those who used to do, teach”. As in, teachers/coaches might be people who due to any number of circumstances can’t participate in doing the thing directly, but have experience in it.

        • Bad_Ideas_In_Bulk@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          0
          ·
          7 days ago

          The saying itself is a pithy dig at teachers, it’s meant to demean their skill at what they’re teaching.

          It’s a witticism, not a measured statement of truth.