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In education courses I remember hearing over and over again that one should never embarrass students or be sarcastic towards them.
That's funny, because one of the best teachers I know - who has some of the highest state tests scores to prove it, and probably the most well liked teacher I know, is the most sarcastic teacher I've ever known and will go off on a kid and embarrass him or her in front of everyone if she thinks he or she deserves it.
A professor from my alma mater would be in shock to see her style, but it gets results. I think it just fits her personality though - I know if I did the same things she did it wouldn't work for me.
If a teacher has already established a solid relationship with her/his students, and they are of high school age, I can see where sarcasm might be tolerable and funny to an extent. However, for grade school kids, sarcasm can be detrimental. Many don't have formal operational thought yet in order to process that kind of humor.
I had a smart alec math teacher in high school who used sarcasm and other 'jokes'. He was a total a**hole and no female student that I knew respected him.
Teachers have to use what works best for them and their students. From what I can remember from my education classes during my undergraduate studies, it had been a long time since any professor had been in a regular classroom. Sarcasm has its place as does kindness and any other type of motivation that you can use as long as it is appropriate.
once you get to know your students, you know who you can joke around with, who you can be sarcastic to, and who not to do that to. Its a balance that you learn as you know your students better
I am not sure how it is motivating for students who need help in any subject to have a sarcastic teacher. Humilating a student in front of others is going to make the kids smarter and work harder? I am sure the sarcasm make the students and parents respect the teacher more..right!
Jonathan Swift, Voltaire, Benjamin Franklin, Mark Twain, Jesus Christ - the greatest minds in the world employed sarcasm as a tool of expression. I'd like to train children to follow in the steps of the greatest minds of history rather than wallow in self indulgence and fragile coddling.
The age of a kid makes a difference here. What is incisive and educational for a high school student is not always the best means of communication for a first grader.
I am not sure how it is motivating for students who need help in any subject to have a sarcastic teacher. Humilating a student in front of others is going to make the kids smarter and work harder? I am sure the sarcasm make the students and parents respect the teacher more..right!
I'm not talking about using sarcasm/humiliation for not understanding something - I'm talking about using it when kids are being jerks.
You have to be careful with this method. I used it during student teaching and other clinicals but only with students who can handle it. I was also a coach so I was able to use it on some of the athletes but not the over emotional students. As time went on I learned who I could joke around with and who I couldn't.
It did backfire once or twice and a quick 'I'm Sorry' fixed the problem.
Agreed, a college instructor was constantly sarcastic with me even when I did a good job. Resentment built and I filed a complaint to her supervisor and sure enough she stopped her rude sarcastic nagging at me.
If she had a problem with me she is supposed to say it in plain English. I even asked her if there was a problem and she said she was just giving me a hard time. What a rude idiot.
Quote:
Originally Posted by NJmmadude
That can backfire. Resentment builds when a teacher demands respect but doesn't model it. Who enjoys a hypocrite?
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