One of the main takeaways from watching the video on Teacher Man was the relationship that Frank McCourt had with his students. He emphasized the connection that he had with every child that he had in his classrooms. It showed me the importance of having a reciprocal relationship between the teacher and the students. He expressed how the teacher must be flexible with his students, and not the other way around. The dynamic amongst the classroom should be a two-way street. It seems that McCourt also conformed to the needs of the students in his classes, within reason. The teacher inquiry that he has done is magnificent and very reflective on his past and present selves. He heavily indulged himself with the American teenager experience, saying things like “raging hormones” and “[their] anguish”. As an “exotic” Irish man, he adapted to the culture of the teens in North America. It makes me think about what kind of teacher that I want to be and the approaches that I want to take. To what degree, do I need to connect with the students? When do I know that I am going too far? How much time do I need to spend on engaging with the students versus teaching the curriculum? These are some of the many questions that I have. However, I know that many of the answers will come with teaching experience in the classroom.
Frank McCourt breaks the norm of having to excel in the field or topic that you are teaching in order to be considered a good teacher. He did not attend secondary school, but he turned out to be an amazing secondary school teacher. This challenges the social norm of schooling to be a proper teacher. It seems that his adaptability was a major factor in his success as an educator. He was beloved by his colleagues and students.
No comments:
Post a Comment