The Schoolteacher

[Werewoman]

Okay folks, here's your chance.

Just about everyone remembers at least one teacher, or has one currently, that had/has a lasting effect for whatever reason.

Soooo, I'm a teacher, and I'm bored - a deeply disturbing combination - so I thought it would be cool to let people tell him/her off, ask a question never asked, tell him/her what he/she did right, tell him/her what he/she did wrong, etc. The skies the limit. Just keep it clean, please.

I will try to respond to each post. If you have a beef, I will try to respond as a teacher would if they could say whatever came to mind. You've been warned.

[Dimentio]

My favourite teacher in primary school was special. He played in a Black Metal band, showed us The Silence of the Lambs and held the opinions that Jews were the same thing as nazis.

Amazing individual.

[Werewoman]

Originally Posted by Dimentio

My favourite teacher in primary school was special. He played in a Black Metal band, showed us The Silence of the Lambs and held the opinions that Jews were the same thing as nazis.

Amazing individual.

Sweden must be very liberal compared to the US. R-rated movies are never allowed and spouting controversial personal opinions is frowned upon. Still, I've done things that were 'forbidden' if I felt strongly it was in the best interest of the students. I've also side-stepped the rules a few times and expressed my personal opinions because I believe students should here multiple points of view, no matter how controversial.

The fact that he played in a metal band would not be considered relevant to his teaching abilities.

He does sound amazing. I've always admired colleagues who think 'outside the box'.

[weaveworld]

I had a very cool English teacher who shared my enthusiasm for reading and helped me to discover some excellent books and well, talk about them, a very cool person.

[Werewoman]

Originally Posted by weaveworld

I had a very cool English teacher who shared my enthusiasm for reading and helped me to discover some excellent books and well, talk about them, a very cool person.

Any sci-fi, fantasy, or horror books by any chance?

You are very fortunate to have had a teacher like that. They sound like someone who truly loved their job.

Wow. Two positive posts so far! I wasn't sure what to expect. Still looking for a gripe, though, and a chance to show off my wicked sense of humor. All the things I could never say...

[weaveworld]

Horror books

Here is a gripe from me, I had an awful maths teacher who constantly choose me to solve the problem in front of the class, and well, I hated it because it was embarrassing and I was so rubbish at maths, it was my dreaded lesson, why did he pick me?????

[Werewoman]

Originally Posted by weaveworld

Horror books

Here is a gripe from me, I had an awful maths teacher who constantly choose me to solve the problem in front of the class, and well, I hated it because it was embarrassing and I was so rubbish at maths, it was my dreaded lesson, why did he pick me?????

Because he was a very misguided soul who believed that by forcing you to do something outside your comfort zone, it would help you get better at maths. To the best of my knowledge, it doesn't work, and if anything, it causes more harm than good.

[weaveworld]

Thank you Werewoman, he has bugged me for years but at least I am slightly better at maths now, how do you like them apples sir?

[Werewoman]

Originally Posted by weaveworld

Thank you Werewoman, he has bugged me for years but at least I am slightly better at maths now, how do you like them apples sir?

I've come across his type, unfortunately. When I come across a teacher like him, I just want to ask him, "What the hell made you think you could be a teacher?? Go try plumbing, it's more your speed!"

[weaveworld]

Originally Posted by Werewoman

I've come across his type, unfortunately. When I come across a teacher like him, I just want to ask him, "What the hell made you think you could be a teacher?? Go try plumbing, it's more your speed!"

I agree

[Lioness]

I shall sing the praises of my current English teacher first. She has a passion for the English language, and it shows in her teaching so much. She always makes lessons so fun, and even though she often gets sidetracked (from Hamlet to Henry the VIII and his wives) it's interesting sidetracking. She made me realise that I could study English at uni. Previously I thought you had to have a very cynical and overly-analytical view of literature, but she certainly doesn't, and she managed it.

Some of my other teachers are not so great. The main problem really is that they teach to the lowest level of the class. When they do that, I get bored. They say 'take your own initiative and go study' but is it too much to ask to cover what is expected of us actually in class? When you take an English Literature studies class (one of the higher level Englishes) and do nothing but watch movies and write 'personal opinions' on things, it's a bit stupid. I talked to the teacher about it, and apparently he's doing it because the class can't cope with reading. Can't cope with reading!? What the hell are they doing in higher level English then???
And he prefers us to use 'I' in our essays. *uncontrollable shuddering* It's unnatural!

[Deathpool]

Teachers? Teachers will allow us to study one way. Suddenly they change it and say we can’t. I need things fairly constant. Okay maybe it was only changed once. Okay I wasn't ever held back and I don't exaggerate except when I do. I did pretty much flunk geography, but I can't absorb that stuff anyways.

[Werewoman]

Originally Posted by Lioness

I shall sing the praises of my current English teacher first. She has a passion for the English language, and it shows in her teaching so much. She always makes lessons so fun, and even though she often gets sidetracked (from Hamlet to Henry the VIII and his wives) it's interesting sidetracking. She made me realise that I could study English at uni. Previously I thought you had to have a very cynical and overly-analytical view of literature, but she certainly doesn't, and she managed it.

Some of my other teachers are not so great. The main problem really is that they teach to the lowest level of the class. When they do that, I get bored. They say 'take your own initiative and go study' but is it too much to ask to cover what is expected of us actually in class? When you take an English Literature studies class (one of the higher level Englishes) and do nothing but watch movies and write 'personal opinions' on things, it's a bit stupid. I talked to the teacher about it, and apparently he's doing it because the class can't cope with reading. Can't cope with reading!? What the hell are they doing in higher level English then???
And he prefers us to use 'I' in our essays. *uncontrollable shuddering* It's unnatural!

You have just given a perfect example of what is the best and worst of academia in general. I have nothing else to add. Your post gives perfect examples.

[Werewoman]

Originally Posted by Deathpool

Teachers? Teachers will allow us to study one way. Suddenly they change it and say we can’t. I need things fairly constant. Okay maybe it was only changed once. Okay I wasn't ever held back and I don't exaggerate except when I do. I did pretty much flunk geography, but I can't absorb that stuff anyways.

Teachers usually change things for one of two reasons:

1. There is yet again another change legislated by a bunch of politicians who are clueless as to what happens in the classroom.

2. Because they can.

I don't exaggerate either - except when I do.

[Lioness]

*sigh*

And then there's my music teacher who has given us an assignment we've done nothing on in class. At all.
We have to research modern composers and relate their style to some not-so-well-known works. No recordings of these are available on the internet, and we haven't had the time on it to do library research. None of us have any idea where to start looking. She also hasn't given us a word limit so I have no idea how much I have to write.

Oh, and it was due yesterday, but do excuse me for not having it at the front of my mind during exams week.