I think the confusion may lie in what people traditionally associate with teaching versus what actual learning is. Teaching has often been seen as an expert transmitting knowledge to another person. The "learner" is a blank slate, ready to be filled with the knowledge from the sage on the stage. This approach works for basic concepts, but it only goes so far. Yes, an elementary student needs to have a teacher "teach" him or her how to add, subtract, spell, etc. That represents basic knowledge that must be mastered first.
However, after the basics are learned, a "teacher" really needs to step away from transmitting knowledge to curating information for students. If our goal is produce independent learners who are able to access and use valid information to make decisions and improve knowledge, then we cannot rely on a teacher to transmit the perfect combination of information. The teacher should be an expert in his or her field, yes, but only to the extent that he or she is aware of the latest breakthroughs in the field, the most significant findings in the field, and the way knowledge of the field fits in with the wider perspective of life in general.
Our goal cannot be teaching students what to think. Our goal has to be providing students with critical thinking skills necessary for them to devise understanding and knowledge on their own.
