I agree with you on the academia aspect, and it sounds like you are referring mostly to higher education, right? Or else, why would we want those from academia teaching our children in middle school and high school.
"intelligence, patience, curiosity, and creativity"
Are those really the qualities of a good teacher? In my mind, I don't really care of the teacher is curious or intelligent. I just want them to know how to deliver information to my child in the most efficient way possible. It would be nice if the children were engaged, and if the teacher had a clever way to even make it "fun" at times, great. But it's not a prerequisite.
>>> it sounds like you are referring mostly to higher education, right?
Actually, no. The qualifications for becoming a professor are generally: doctoral degree in subject + publications to name. At least where I live, the requirements for becoming a teacher are generally: approved course of study (in education, not necessarily subject areas) + baccalaureate degree + teaching certificate.
>>> I just want them to know how to deliver information to my child in the most efficient way possible.
Then what you want is Google, or Wikipedia, or a good textbook. When, however, it comes time to teach your child how to find the information, how to assess it critically, how to reason about it, and how to use it effectively, then you need a teacher.
Also, teachers play the important role of exposing students to ideas and information that they would not otherwise be searching for, and thus to cultivate previously unknown interests and foster an appreciation for learning.
> I don't really care of the teacher is curious or intelligent. I just want them to know how to deliver information to my child in the most efficient way possible.
Adding to other excellent answers, there's also this thing that children are not robots. You can't just open a channel and upload the knowledge to their brains. You need to work them on emotional level, make them curious / interested in what they are learning, even if because it boosts efficiency tremendously.
> It would be nice if the children were engaged, and if the teacher had a clever way to even make it "fun" at times, great. But it's not a prerequisite.
Yes, it is. Even teachers who are experts in their domains may (and in academia, often are) poor teachers. Because it doesn't matter what you say (they can read up the details in textbook/on Wikipedia; that's what they're there for anyway). It matters how you say it.
Knowledge is not some quantity that teachers mechanically shovel onto students in an efficient manner. Teachers must be curious and intelligent, so that they serve as a role model for their students (who also must be curious and intelligent to learn.) An uninquisitive teacher encourages uninquisitive students.
"intelligence, patience, curiosity, and creativity"
Are those really the qualities of a good teacher? In my mind, I don't really care of the teacher is curious or intelligent. I just want them to know how to deliver information to my child in the most efficient way possible. It would be nice if the children were engaged, and if the teacher had a clever way to even make it "fun" at times, great. But it's not a prerequisite.