Teacher Discussion Forums

My theory:
Schools need more discipline. A child today argued against my superiour markings. I was reviewing his work, and his sentence read: Warrior watkins is a "tough as nails" military style P.E teacher....(etc.)
I corrected his work to read easier and it now reads:Warrior watkins, Sol's teacher is as tough as nails, a military style P.E teacher. I also added more content to his work with use of exclamation marks in perfectly appropriate places. This child approached me and complained that the original sentence was grammatically okay, which it clearly wasn't. It made sense, but as a teacher I had to do my best to find the mistakes. I explained the faults to the child, but he persisted, and was extremely rude. If children are going to act like this towards a member of authority, I think our schools need more discipline! What do you think?

I think it was wrong for the student to be rude. I don't think you want to be more strict since in my experience this only leads to worse disobedience AND retaliation. Having worked in difficult situations with students who are troubling, I can assure you strictness will not solve your problems.

I am not going to presume to know what exactly you should do, but offer my experience as advice on what not do. You just might find yourself in a place you definitely don't want to be.

I think it's too bad the student was rude. I don't know the approach that was used by either you or the student, and I'm sure someone here with experience working with kids might have some suggestions. On the other hand, I liked the way the student wrote it better. What was the problem with it? (This is unrelated to the issue of discipline, but is interesting to me, with respect to English.)

Lorikeet wrote:I think it's too bad the student was rude. I don't know the approach that was used by either you or the student, and I'm sure someone here with experience working with kids might have some suggestions. On the other hand, I liked the way the student wrote it better. What was the problem with it? (This is unrelated to the issue of discipline, but is interesting to me, with respect to English.)

Well, I...my grammar was better than his. He should have used "as" as it was a simile. I will stand my ground about correcting his English, but supposing I was wrong, how would I amend this situation?

I thought originally that you might be trolling, but I'll respond anyway.

If you want to correct the situation just admit that you were wrong or that the student's way of expressing the sentence is also right or could be seen as correct by others.

Ex.

This is a sure-fire example of why your students can write that he is a tough-as-nails teacher.

Not: This is an example that isn't as sure as fire of why your student can write that he is a teacher who is as tough as nails.

Being a teacher puts you in a position of authority. It doesn't make you the one and only authority. If you can't admit that you were or might have been wrong, you shouldn't expect the students to either. The best way to have dealt with that situation in my opinion is to tell the student, "I'll check into it." Then get some feedback from other teachers and go back with good information, not, "because I said so." There's no need to be bothered with arguing with a child. If he wants to mutter something under his breath, let him.

Likewise, if you can admit that you were or might have been wrong it sets a good example that we should admit to our mistakes and faults not run from them or hide them. Even teachers make mistakes. Even teachers need to learn.

A child today argued against my superiour markings.

You are their teacher, their guide. You are not their king. If you try to dominate them you will only start a rebellion. My advice is not more discipline but to get off the power trip and join the team. You can be the captain, leader, mentor, etc. with out dominating or intimidating students.

I explained the faults to the child, but he persisted, and was extremely rude.

If by rude you mean questioning your superiour markings, I'd say the student was not rude but justified in his stance. Simply questioning your judgement doesn't make him rude. I wiil refer back to my earlier statement: If you try to dominate them you will only start a rebellion.

YEEES! I'm actually a student, I just needed to know! Get in, this is what my teacher did to me!!!! Apart from the whole arguing with the markings, i didn't do that though. But yaaaay! Anyway, i just kept it as what it was originally on the final piece and she didn't notice. Ahhh, the sweeet smell of confirmation.

Thank goodness you aren't a teacher! I would have hated to be in your class. .

Lorikeet wrote:Thank goodness you aren't a teacher! I would have hated to be in your class. ;).

Lawl. Are you a student?

No, I'm a teacher (of adults)--have been for 36 years. But I have kids and I can relate!

hi there.
dicipline is ok. but dnt too demanding please. if i were ur student i am propably going to hide my self from you.
dont be too harsh to your students. what you can do for them is being their friend. as soon as you get their friendship, they will trust you and soon you dont have to make your self work really hard just to make them to listen to you.

This is so funny! Are you really a student?? I hope so. I liked the original student's sentence much better than the teacher's correction (and I'm a native speaker).

Anyway, thanks for the entertainment.
Cheers!
-EH