In class we talked about whether we think that Ms. Hempel was a typical teacher or not. I still am not 100% sure what I think even after reading it and discussing the story in class. She strikes me in the beginning as a teacher that wants to prove something to everyone. She wants to prove to her class that she does know how to apply the lessons she teaches in class, which is why she makes each anecdotal special to the student. She also seemed very needy for attention. She wants all the students to think of how smart she is and same with the parents. Also, when she makes the comment about everyone doing bad things in their lifetime and the students ask her what she did when she was a child, she mentions "In truth, she loved talking about herself." I am not sure if this is a typical teacher or not. Personally, I am studying to become a teacher and I am pretty sure that I am not always looking for attention and need to have that, but some teachers are like that and that is why they love being in the front of the room.
I think that it wasn't a "typical teacher" assignment to have the students write their own anecdotals. It was one of those assignments that could be viewed as a good idea and also as a bad idea. It was a good idea in the sense that it gives the parents an understanding as to how the students feels about themselves as long as they took it seriously. I believe that the students should be able to critic themselves once and awhile to really give parents and the teacher their insight. It could be a bad idea, in the fact that the parents in grades 8th and under actually do really care about how their student is doing in class and the fact that this anecdotal didn't even come from the teacher takes the meaning away from it. They want the teacher to see what they see in their child. The parents' pride in their child is so strong but they need that boost from a teacher saying they see the intelligence, also. This wasn't a typical teacher action but I think that once and awhile this is an assignment that should be handed out. (Kelcey Summers, 1)
I think that this is an excellent meditation on the character of Ms. Hempel. We as the reader are asked to consider whether the fact that Ms. Hempel has many flaws and insecurities ultimately makes her an effective or ineffective teacher. Perhaps the best teachers are ones that are human and willing to accept and discuss their shortcomings?
ReplyDeleteAlso, this would be your 3rd post. Make sure to number you posts on an ongoing basis as opposed to starting afresh each week.