Stephen asked: "Can a teacher be an authority figure while truly fostering skeptical independent thought about authority figures?"
I think that it is more than possible for a teacher to be an authority figure while fostering independent thought about authority figures. The key is that the teacher must not exercise authority arbitrarily. A good teacher should be a good model for a fair authority figure, specifically:
The teacher should not inflict punishments on students arbitrarily.
The teacher should explain to the students why the rules exist, why it is to their advantage to follow them, and the consequences of not following them.
The teacher should use appropriate punishments fitting to the offense committed.
The teacher should respect students, and in return expect to be respected.
The teacher should show willingness to listen to the needs of the students, and respond accordingly, within reason.
Yes, this may not be a particularly specific list, and perhaps a tad vague. But the point is that a teacher, I think, can and should be a model authority figure, and through that role guide students into navigating relationships with authority figures.
To end with a question: How much authority should a teacher have in the classroom (or, put another way, when should the teacher assert authority, and when should the teacher defer to other authorities (administration, parents, law enforcement, etc))?
