After little success in acquiring a relevant job in history I am back at the school teaching. So for the next weeks I am substituting a teacher in Maths, Science and Physical Education. Definitely not much relevant to my background, but I need bread-and-butter money like everyone else and teaching is quite fun.
I am quite fascinated by how focused fifteen year olds are on identity. Of course we all "read" other people in the way they dress and behave - and I suppose in the intellectual world which books read and theorist used. Fifteen year olds are occupied with the individuality/normality identity crisis, and brands seem to be the important thing. I try to dress neatly and proper as a teacher, but I had not really taken into consideration how much interest my pupils have in my appearance. In the middle of a period of concentrated work someone can suddenly decide to discuss an outfit I had a few days ago. And I repeatedly get questions about my favourite shops and brands. This are things I do not think too much about, so it is a bit difficult to answer. Perhaps I answer "wrong" are put in the category of "strange". I do not want that to happen.
Perhaps I should not be surprised about pupils interest in their teacher. I have always loved discussing the dress-sense of my teachers and lecturers. Especially those with fashion faux pas's
If you haven't seen it, rent the DVD Election, with Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon. It's about a high school election and probably one of the best school movies of all time. It takes up the teacher / pupil role and is excellent for a discussion of morals and ethics. It's also a scary insight into how pupils set out to manipulate their teachers.
Posted by: jb | Tuesday, September 06, 2005 at 06:53
I have not seen it, but will try to get hold of it.
I definitely feel that the pupils are manipulating. However, I am probably not detecting all their attempts at manipulating. I try to be quite a firm teacher and it seems to work. I have seen how other substitute teachers are forced into the role of "Ronald McDonald" pleasing the children and having no control.
Posted by: ksbrorson | Tuesday, September 06, 2005 at 09:47
As a new teacher I often get the questions. How old are you? Are you married? Can't say I blame them. I often take a (descret) look if people are wearing a wedding ring or not :)
And yes, students can be really manipultaing sometimes.
Posted by: Ella | Wednesday, September 07, 2005 at 21:18