RE: Why do teachers have to be the brightest?

I think we always have problems when we try to make the good teacher mono-dimensional (intelligent, or a class leader, or disciplinarian, or computer literate, or well organized). I have had teachers seriously tell me "I can teach anything, just give me the text and as long as I'm two days ahead I can do it!"  To really help students I think you must know your subject material well otherwise student questions or novel information will be difficult to answer or interpret.

But, your point seems to be that is really not enough, and I agree that the most effective teacher must also have a way to reach the students and pull them into the educational process.  Really we must be multi-dimensional.