Re: fun and effective

[writingctr@kean.ucs.mun.ca]

I'm getting the impression that lots of us have had students who 
expected us to be entertaining. So, to what extent do ye adjust to
that expectation? Is it a question of I'll-do-just-about-anything-
if-it'll-help? There was a drama teacher here who was wildly popular
with his students. He was an excellent teacher in his day, which
partly accounted for it. He was also likely to get out on the window-
sill on the third storey and threaten to jump if someone didn't start
reading their lines like they meant it. He was very entertaining, but
I think he went too far. He lost control of his classroom -- and then
would lose control of his temper, and he got a reputation for being a
loose cannon. Sad story. He was at the far end of the continuum of
teacher-entertainers, and I don't expect many teachers would want to
emulate him. But I told that story as an introduction to asking, How
far is too far for a teacher-entertainer? 

Jacqueline Howse
Coordinator, Writing Centre
Memorial University of Newfoundland
writingctr@kean.ucs.mun.ca