The Authoritative Status of a Teacher
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Over the last couple of days, I have been bombarded by talk shows on Channel U that revolved round the topic of teachers. One show had Xiaxue argue that if teachers do not want students to visit grammatically-problematic blogs, the teachers should educate the students not to visit these blogs, instead of commenting on the blogger (the teacher on the show was obviously targeting Xiaxue prior); the other had students expressing their views on blogging negative comments about teachers. If all these are not enough, the morning topic for 933 was "Experience with Teachers".
Personally, I, too, had bad experience with teachers. I was taped on the mouth when I was in primary school (for talking incessantly) and ordered to stand outside the class-room for the WHOLE day (I had visited the toilet without permission during reading period). Did I hate my teachers? No, I did not. Because I know I was at fault. But why are students today so defendant of their own actions even if they are at fault? Maybe they believe that the customer (student) is always right. Maybe they are thinking:"My parents pay taxes to let you teach me something and here I am being scolded by you. What the heck?!"
What I am advocating is quite simple. Maintain the authority of the teachers in the classroom and be prepared to face the music if you do something wrong. Don't take it personally that the teacher is chiding you in the class. (A teacher should never abuse that authority conferred to him/her though.) Outside the class, that level of authority can be brought down and I am for group-outing with students after class. What I sense is that youngsters are unable to differentiate the relationship in and out of class. They expect teachers to be nice to them in and out of class. I don't blame them for they are still growing up and this is part of the process.
Of course, in addition, a teacher should never show favoritism or discrimination in the class. I know its difficult, a teacher is with emotions and these will undoubtedly show up. The bottom line is that a teacher should be impartial and authoritative in class while showing his/her personal human touch outside curriculum.
Easier said than done. I shall see whether my advocations work when I am facing all the challenges as I embark on my teaching career in a few years.
posted byWilliam at 12:17 PM