Monks were the traditional teachers of the young and old alike until secular and missionary schools came into being during the British colonial administration.

He studied with a second traditional teacher until age six when he was advised to seek a jazz instructor.

Years later he was adopted by a traditional native teacher from Sagkeeng.

"It put pressure on the traditional teachers to perform better and motivated everyone," Mr. Brown said.

But many Hawaiians - even kumus, or traditional religious teachers - don't see a problem.

Episodes often deal with the resistance of traditional teachers to Tanner's unorthodox teaching style.

Students are used to, and are more comfortable with, traditional teacher directed learning.

By junior high school, nearly one in three bilingual teachers is uncertified - about twice the rate for traditional teachers.

In addition, many educators in traditional graduate teacher- training programs remain skeptical about Teach for America's long-term impact.

However, even traditional Mysore-style teachers offer "led" classes either weekly or monthly.