[motxilo]

I would dare to say +95% of the teachers I had up until college were downright mediocre because they lacked one single paramount side of outstanding teachers: p-a-s-s-i-o-n. Sometimes this alone has the potential to drive one's pedagogical skills.

[jonsen]

I'd say c-o-m-p-a-s-s-i-o-n also goes a long way.

EDIT: A colleague of mine, a great teacher by the way, once phrased it: "You've got to love your students. It's as simple as that."

[nlawalker]

I think most teachers would say the same thing about the students they've taught. It's pretty hard to impart insight and understanding to someone who doesn't care and doesn't want to.

[motxilo]

A passionate teacher is likely going to instill greater interest in a large number of students than that of one who does not convey the slightest amount of passion, dooming the poor disciples to such an ordeal -including the brightest ones.