Teach
01-17-2017, 05:22 PM
“Stop chewing gum!” I said. A few minutes later, I scolded, “Will you two in the back stop talking! You’re disrupting the class,” I added.
Well, after that class was over, my department head, a man named Fred (he was observing my class) took me aside. The first words out of his mouth were: “How are you with constructive comments?” I replied, “That’s fine.”
My department head started by saying, “I enjoyed your lesson. You were well-prepared and you led a lively class discussion. You engaged the students,” he added. I want to compliment you on that,” he said. Yet, Fred went on to say that as a young teacher (I was in my second year of teaching) you fell into the same “trap” that lots of other young teachers often do. Your criticism of your students, although deserved, could have been handled differently, more professionally.
It was then that Fred went on to say: “Praise in public; Rebuke in private.” Fred continued, “By scolding those students in front of their peers only gives them the attention (for the wrong reason) that they crave.” “And,” he added, “your actions in rebuking them detracts from your lesson.” Fred then said, “If a certain group of students can rattle you, they’ll continue to do it. It only takes a couple ‘bad actors’ to ruin your otherwise excellent class.”
After a brief pause I said, “What would you suggest?” Fred replied, “If the matter can wait until the end of class, then take time to briefly speak to those students who were acting disruptively. You might consider,” Fred continued, “speaking with them after school. By then,” He added, “tensions will have subsided.”
“Oh, another possibility is to stand near the disruptive student(s). It can be done very subtly; yet they’ll quickly get the message from your physical presence. You can even try ‘a look’. I’ve seen some very effective teachers with good discipline firmly glance in the direction of a troublesome student. That will sometimes stop the disruptive behavior right in its tracks.”
Well, as we prepare for the inauguration of Donald J. Trump as our 45th President, I ask the question: “Should our incoming President consider the advice that was offered to me as a young teacher over 50 years ago”: “Praise in public; Rebuke in private”. How do you feel about the “Tweets”? Would Trump be better served if he conducted his correspondence in a more presidential manner? You be the judge.
Well, after that class was over, my department head, a man named Fred (he was observing my class) took me aside. The first words out of his mouth were: “How are you with constructive comments?” I replied, “That’s fine.”
My department head started by saying, “I enjoyed your lesson. You were well-prepared and you led a lively class discussion. You engaged the students,” he added. I want to compliment you on that,” he said. Yet, Fred went on to say that as a young teacher (I was in my second year of teaching) you fell into the same “trap” that lots of other young teachers often do. Your criticism of your students, although deserved, could have been handled differently, more professionally.
It was then that Fred went on to say: “Praise in public; Rebuke in private.” Fred continued, “By scolding those students in front of their peers only gives them the attention (for the wrong reason) that they crave.” “And,” he added, “your actions in rebuking them detracts from your lesson.” Fred then said, “If a certain group of students can rattle you, they’ll continue to do it. It only takes a couple ‘bad actors’ to ruin your otherwise excellent class.”
After a brief pause I said, “What would you suggest?” Fred replied, “If the matter can wait until the end of class, then take time to briefly speak to those students who were acting disruptively. You might consider,” Fred continued, “speaking with them after school. By then,” He added, “tensions will have subsided.”
“Oh, another possibility is to stand near the disruptive student(s). It can be done very subtly; yet they’ll quickly get the message from your physical presence. You can even try ‘a look’. I’ve seen some very effective teachers with good discipline firmly glance in the direction of a troublesome student. That will sometimes stop the disruptive behavior right in its tracks.”
Well, as we prepare for the inauguration of Donald J. Trump as our 45th President, I ask the question: “Should our incoming President consider the advice that was offered to me as a young teacher over 50 years ago”: “Praise in public; Rebuke in private”. How do you feel about the “Tweets”? Would Trump be better served if he conducted his correspondence in a more presidential manner? You be the judge.