What are the bad things that may happen you asked? Children are still children. Accidents during sports. They might fall off the stairs. Brawling rarely happens, but its a possibility. Some students may have high fever in the middle of the night. They might got food poisoning. Unauthorized personals invading the hostels. Or the students decided they wanted to go out of the hostel grounds without permission. The list can be quite long....
There are 7 wardens, all of us are also teachers, three men and four women. Only me and a fellow male teacher live outside the school compound. (I love my house anyway, and do not wish to stay apart long with it). Close proximity to the students will be BAD for a warden's health. There'll be constant knocking on the door, and endless stream of questions from both students and parents during the weekend. From 'when can we go out' to 'can I bring my child out for her grandma's wedding'.
Every wardens has his / her own style. And mine is 'in your face' approach.
If I don't like a student (behavior) I will tell the rest that I hate that particular human being and his associates will also feel the heat. I don't usually sugarcoat my words because I always believe honesty is the best policy.
Some may wonder in shock, WTH are you posing as a teacher then? From my 14 years experience, my observation of human (student) nature is; they will never change in school. A good student may improve, but an average or the bad ones may continue being so for the rest of the year. I am talking in behavioral terms, not academic. A tardy boy will continue being late, and a hardworking girl will continue creating great diagrams in her homework.
So what kind of children do you have?
The best way to change children's mind for the better is by telling them why they must do so, making them UNDERSTAND what will happen if they fail. Yes, talk to them to nail in the facts, properly.
This may prove very hard because usually peer pressure will destroy this holy task of yours.
So I always turns to BLACKMAILING instead. The next best thing.
You don't do what I ask, I will never look at your face again. You will make 5 copy of this correction paper if you fail my test. You will stand the entire hour in my class if you are late. You will acknowledge yourself as an idiot if you fail to answer me, even after I told you to read. You will sit in the middle of the corridor if you fail to hand in your work etc etc.
Harsh. (Not very) brutal. But it works. I don't do much shouting anymore when I found out that the results will be much the same without any screaming. Now I aim for their ego.
Anyway, picture time!
Oh and this was about 930 in the evening....
The next day, when all of them are in school prefects uniform. I didn't have to tell them twice (now that's a teacher's wet dream). You girls sweep and you boys pick up the pigeons' feathers (our school is infested with these flying vermin). Observe and Obey, my personal motto.
You just cannot win the war by playing nice. The Dark Side of the Force can have things done too :)
Ramblings by
10 comments:
You are a fierce teacher indeed! So do the students all live on "campus" then?
Hello Mr Freeland;
85% stay at the hostels. The rest live outside with their families.
"Warden" is an unfortunate term. Too reminiscent of "jailer" LOL!
Madam Debra;
I actually like the term. And it is no secret to my students that controlling them is a HOBBY of mine :)
Oh, you are a tough one!
It is good for students to have different types of teachers. I still remember some fierce teachers and very kind teachers as well.
I am very impressed that all women are wearing blue veils.
I am a baddie and loving it :)
Kindness does not fit with all children in my experience. But they all respect fear.
Its a religious school, all women wear veils.
Kindness does not fit with all children in my experience. But they all respect fear.
Its a religious school, all women wear veils.
I agree with you!
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