“Those who can’t teach, teach gym”
George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) wrote in his play Man and Superman (1903):
“He who can, does. He who cannot, teaches.”
The saying is often given as, “Those who can, do, those who can’t, teach.” By at least the 1930s, it was added “those who can’t teach, teach the teachers.”
Filmmaker Woody Allen added a popular variation in his New York-based film Annie Hall (1977):
“Ihose who can’t do teach, and those who can’t teach, teach gym.”
Wikiquote: Man and Superman
Man and Superman (1903) by George Bernard Shaw is a four act drama, written as a response to those who had questioned Shaw as to why he had never written a play based on the Don Juan theme.
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Maxims for Revolutionists
He who can, does. He who cannot, teaches.
. Education
Wikiquote: School of Rock
School of Rock is a 2003 comedy film starring Jack Black. When Dewey Finn (Black) is kicked out of his rock band, he poses as his roomate Ned Schneebly and takes a substitute teaching job at Horace Green Elementary. While teaching there, he secretly turns his class into a rock band in time for the Battle of the Bands.
Dewey Finn
Those who can’t do, teach. And those who can’t teach, teach gym. (Variation of George Bernard Shaw quote and earlier quoted verbatim in Annie Hall)
The Internet Movie Database
Memorable quotes for
Annie Hall (1977)
Alvy Singer: I remember the staff at our public school. You know, we had a saying, uh, that those who can’t do teach, and those who can’t teach, teach gym. And, uh, those who couldn’t do anything, I think, were assigned to our school.
Google Books
Education and the Social Crisis;
A proposed program
By William Heard Kilpatrick
New York, NY: Liveright
1932
Pg. 46:
Too often has Bernard Shaw’s gibe been justified, that “those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.” Some one has even added that those who can’t teach, teach how to teach.
Google Books
Group Guidance:
Principles, techniques, and evaluation
By Robert Hoppock
New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Book Co.
1949
Pg. 231:
You, perhaps, have heard the remark, “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach; those who can’t teach, teach others to teach.”
Google Books
Education for All;
An introduction to American education
By William Marshall French
New York, NY: Odyssey Press
1955
Pg. 152:
“Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach; those who can’t teach, teach others how to teach; those who can’t teach others how to teach become school administrators.”
9 September 1955, Hagerstown (MD) Morning Herald, “Bread of Life” by Rev. A. Purnell Bailey, pg. 26, col. 2:
Her (Jane Merchant pf Knoxville, TN—ed.) humorous modesty was once expressed when two educators wrote appreciation for her works. “This reminded me,” she said, “of the saying, ‘Them as can, do. Them as can’t, teach. And them as can’t teach, teach the teachers.’ I guess I’m in the third group!”
14 March 1960, Weirton (WV) Daily Times, “Try and Stop Me” by Bennett Cerf, pg. 7, col. 1:
JIM McKAIN, dynamic and popular president of Kansas State University, says that every time he thinks he’s getting a bit too cocky, he deliberately calls to mind a saying he once heard: “Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach. Those who can’t teach, teach teachers. And those who can’t even teach teachers, become college presidents!”