| Teachers are Human Too |
| �HE CAN�T TEACH! I�M FAILING THIS STUPID CLASS BECAUSE OF HIM! NO!! MY GPA!!!� Sound familiar? I hope so, because you�ve said it, I�ve said it, and as students in general- we�ve all said it. University High School is known statewide for its exceptional students and faculty; however, there is- and always will be- some sort of antagonistic relationship between the educators and students. Not to sound cynical, but more often than not, the attitudes shared between learner and teacher is regrettably synonymous to the game of �Pong.� Yes, �Pong�. A ball inevitably bounces from one side to the other. Likewise, people�s morale is bounced from side to side within the boundaries of a typical classroom. To ruminate over this comparison, let�s look at a simple example: A nameless student has a bad day. So he decides to goof off- therefore raising his hand not to make an intelligent question, but to play as the class jester. He then irritates the teacher, and everyone knows that an irritated teacher equals irritated students. There is no need to go into the specifics because all of us are aware of this classic scenario; however, this doesn�t mean that the other faction, the teachers, are innocent of some of the bad vibrations circling about campus. In fact, the scenario may very well work the other way: A teacher has a bad day. He isn�t in the mood to deal with repetitive questions. In fact, he isn�t in the mood to teach at all, but it�s his job- what can he do? Hence, his temper radiates like a beacon as he efforts to carry on yet another lesson plan. The students, in turn, are more than a little conscious of their instructor�s somewhat ill disposition and they grow either frightened or equally petulant. A game of �Pong�- only no one wants to catch the ball. The chief problem is, because of the reciprocation of negative attitudes on part of both sides- learning, achieving, and developing good relationships are made difficult. Lynn Delano, teacher and tutor from Sylvan Learning Center, comments: �In high school, the learning atmosphere is the joint responsibility of the teacher and the student; the teacher needs to make the student feel safe enough to ask questions, while the student needs to make the teacher feel safe enough to encourage questions.� Of course, such an atmosphere is hard to achieve. More accurately, it�s something of a utopia. This environment demands absolute respect from the students to the teachers and visa versa. It�s not going to happen- not entirely at least, and the reason for this is because of human nature. Face it. People grow angry, lazy, industrious, and throw blame around for their personal losses. And you know what? This kind of thing is typical in any given workplace. You will love, hate, and tolerate your bosses, while your bosses will give you the same respects. It�s almost like school. To love, hate, and tolerate you teacher, as your teacher does you. Now what? If this game of �Pong� is never-ending, then what hope is there of having an ideal learning environment, where everyone is �happy�? I believe that the most that can be done is to come to a consensus regarding student and teacher behavior. Because teachers are only human, students must keep in mind that external and internal stresses impact their attitudes, and students cannot immediately assume anything about their demeanor. �We all have bad days,� Says Mr. Tinh Tran of the science department. �We�re not immune to the ups and downs of emotions�� The same should go on the students� behalf, and Chelsea Baker (Jr.) remarks: �I go to school to learn. A teacher with an inappropriate attitude makes this learning more difficult, but once I leave that class, I forget it and move on. I wouldn�t want a teacher fired for that kind of behavior, but I would want it improved.� Furthermore, teachers cannot count on them to learn everything off the bat, nor can they silence the voice of an honest question by presenting their class with frustration or unassailable superiority. Remember, while the school situation coincides with the real world in some sense, school should still have that comfort zone in which the student and teacher know that they are on fair and reverential terms. |