a few of us are returning to the classroom today (some on a new side of the desk)--so good luck to all of us.
may there be no trouble students or bureaucratic messes for us this term!
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So here we are in the hopes of maintaining our regular lively, witty, and often bizarre conversations. More importantly, we're here in the hopes of remaining friends. We've done amazingly well in dealing with each other so far, and I think we would all agree life would be less something without one another. So, here's to us...vive le singe de la pipe! *Monkey dances and plays symbols.*
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- la pipe de singe
- My portrait says enough, no? I do own twenty-three dogs and a handful of cats, though. And I keep a black rabbit around for good luck. None of my dogs is named "wiener".
I'm going to start a discussion on this one...
ReplyDeleteWe all know I'm new to this, and I've been reprimanded for being overly fearful/concerned. Two of you already know what's happened so far, and so I would like to know how to handle it.
My classes all went well but for the one thing. I played music. I asked them what their favourite thing is (the things changed, I tried to be creative), and soon they were piping up with questions for me to ask the next person on the roster. They laughed, smiled, seemed to listen and pay attention. I felt more and more at ease and just tried to have a good time...but you know me.
I made a comment. It started as fun ways to have exams, went on to my teaching inspirations, namely Menzer, and, of course, I mentioned how hot he was. That got some laughs. I said I wanted to "plug into his brain"...Then, in a lower voice but still loud enough to hear, I said "as well as another place." I got some laughs, some "Ooooos," and some surprised looks with smiles. But there was one student...
She raised her hand at the back and said, "um can we please refrain from sexual innuendo in the classroom?"
Fortunately I didn't even pause. I just smiled and said "of course," and then proceeded to say that I wanted us to feel free to discuss anything, but not free to push people's buttons, and that we would work together to maintain our boundaries (or something to that effect). She didn't look pleased at my response.
Students rolled their eyes, bowed their heads, afraid to look, and looked at each other as if wondering what I would do.
One more thing I would like to say is that not moments before I asked that if they had any problem of that nature they pull me aside after class and not call me out. She did the opposite.
So, I know that as far as the classroom is concerned I have to be more careful, that's clear. But should this continue to be an issue, what do I do? I'm not going to keep the topic of sex off the table. How we go about discussing it we can manage, but what if she continues to do this? What if she complains to someone else? How do I handle it?
On a better note, Dallas dropped one of my courses, but gave me another. Now all I have to teach is 1301 and American Lit. It's easier as far as lesson plans are concerned. They're all the same.
ReplyDeleteit sounds as though you handled the situation well, and as innuendo goes, that's nothing. you did the right thing by complying with her wishes and expressing your desire for an open environment.
ReplyDeleteit could be she was testing you to see how you would react, but given where you were teaching today, it's more likely that she was offended. i've noticed that my students in that district tend to be more conservative and religious than in others. it's something that i have to be congizant of given the mythos i choose to bring into the classroom (people don't like it when you call their creation story a myth). and it's obviously something you are going to need to watch in class--at least as it pertains to you commenting on how hot your profs are. if it's in the lit you look at or an article they read, then all bets are off.
she'll probably drop your class, but if she doesn't, i would catch her after class or send her an e-mail mentioning again that you didn't mean to offend and reiterating your policy on class discussions.
I don't even remember her name. It caught me off guard, you know? Do you think I'm at risk of employer invasion?
ReplyDeletei think you'll be fine. i'm sure you'll remember her face if she shows up tomorrow. just pull her aside after class.
ReplyDelete