Jeff Smith was a man of ideas. Unfortunately many of them were bad ones.
At the end of his unpleasant school life Jeff thought the life of a schoolteacher would be the way to go. Teachers had power, great hours, lots of holidays and a pay check every fortnight.
In Jeff’s head the role of a teacher was someone who made life as miserable as possible for his students as his teachers had done to him.
On his first day at Villain Street High School Jeff sauntered in and looked at his timetable before deciding that for each class pretty much the same lesson would suffice.
So his one lesson organised he sat back to await his first pay day planning what he would do with his new found wealth.
Now Jeff was a big man with a big voice. Any dissent he decided could be met with sheer will power and vocal strength.
After the first week the kids had worked him out. He rarely took the roll, he didn’t care what happened in the class and he never set homework so therefore never had to mark any.
So as kids will do, all hell broke loose by week three.
Jeff would turn up to class, the days lesson in his hand, the kids sitting around, throwing paper, pens or whatever they could get their hands on. Jeff would ask politely for them to sit down, they would ignore him and often Jeff would give up and sit at the front of the class and read the paper.
By week 6 he was summoned to the Principal’s office who asked him about his classroom management and that three parents had complained their children were not being taught anything in his class.
Jeff protested that he was using the latest teaching techniques as imparted to him during teacher training. The Principal decided Jeff as a new teacher needed time to establish himself in the classroom.
By week 8 nothing much had changed except the kids were more out of control than ever and it became evident to all that Jeff’s method of discipline of roaring at the class in such a way that worried his colleagues in other classrooms fearing that he might have a heart attack at any stage and or worse harm some kid.
By week 10 such was the chaos that the kids in some classes were not bothering to turn up, some sat in the corridor, any suggestion of them sitting in their seats from Jeff was greeted by a few ‘fuck offs’ and Jeff in his established style sat back and did nothing.
Not once did he ask for help.
Not once did he make a change.
Never did he look at his colleagues and see them working long hours and always finding new ways to challenge their students. To Jeff, teachers were the epitome of misery.
By now not only were parents complaining but also the staff and students.
One student unfortunate to be in Jeff’s class fronted the Principal with an ultimatum that either Jeff go or she would.
The Principal was taken aback. He called in his Deputy and asked him to check on the classes Jeff was allegedly teaching.
Jeff’s Head Teacher was at his wits end as Jeff made it clear he wasn’t interested in any assistance as in his opinion he had everything under control.
It became clear that Jeff was not what one expected in a teacher.
By week 12 the Principal called Jeff in with the Deputy and Head Teacher to announce that Jeff had to lift his game or face being dismissed.
Jeff was amazed that it had come to this.
They decided to offer him a fresh start at another school.
It never occurred to Jeff to change his style.
He didn’t and his life at his new school turned to horror.
There were no discipline issues; this was a school where kids wanted to learn.
They demanded he do his job.
By week 2 most parents of most kids had complained.
By week 4 a meeting of all parents of all students in his classes was called.
By week 6 Jeff was out of a job.
The result was the realisation that teaching was not his forte. Disappointing as it was but he learned a rude lesson.
There was no such thing as an easy job, just the wrong person in the wrong job.
Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2015/02/01/writing-prompt-92-unsuitable-employment-february-1-2015/
Morpethroad 
The opening and closing lines are extremely powerful and I love the name of his first high school haha. I have only taught yoga classes, a lot of work goes into that so I can’t even imagine how hard teaching an academic class would be. Using yoga as an example I obviously had to write up a routine that is interesting and challenging but not too challenging. You don’t want people getting injured or feeling defeated and giving up, you also don’t want to under stimulate them, they have to reach the edge without going past it but everyone’s edge is in a different place as people come in with all different levels of fitness. For each exercise I had to have several alternative versions for the different skill levels as well as alternatives if the person might be suffering from any sort of injury (I took into account all sorts of joint injuries, if a woman would be on her cycle you name it). I also had to address the issue that sometimes people are sensitive about perceived limitations. I had to evaluate my class and see what they wanted as individuals. In my case most wanted it to focus on the core so I brought in Pilates moves which they loved. Had I done too much breathing and meditation work this particular class would have been bored (for another group that might have been the preferred direction). Because they were so social we did some partner work which I would have been reluctant to do if my pupils had not known each other and were not comfortable working with others. My particular class was filled with very active people but they had no experience with yoga and so balance and flexibility were the main issues. I had to think of alternatives for all the equipment because someone might not have or be able to obtain certain things, so I thought of routines using very little equipment and then had household alternatives to everything. Of course every class needed a totally new routine, if I did that everyday man oh man! In yoga their are a lot of different moves but there are moves they will have to do over and over again and it is a bit tricky to keep it fresh and new each time. I have a lot of respect for teachers. A tremendous amount of time love and effort goes into it.
You are right successful teaching is about understanding and connecting with our students, no matter what kind of teaching you are engaging in. And yes it is not an easy job, it takes time, perseverance, frustration, planning, patience and a lot of trial and error. Not every lesson works and sometimes you have to abandon a plan when you see its not working. But as I said before often success lies in the relationship you forge with the students in front of you. If they see you are passionate and know what you are talking about you are half way there. Thanks Yves for your comment, it is pleasing to see that in the example you give you did give a lot of thought to the individuals in your class. Have a great day.
I would have loved to have you as a teach Michael =)
Well I think I taught a few kids just like you over the years.
I honor the teachers who take the time to evaluate and inspire.
I had one prof in college that basically said the mid term would be on the first half of the text and the second half would be the final. While some of the class was about sharing reports, most of it was a waste of him telling stories that didn’t even relate to the subject at hand.
We also had issues with a high school teacher for our own children who if anything should have been teaching college students. While one child suffered trough, we pulled the other one out. She was not a very nice woman or a good teacher. She wanted no feed back on how she taught because she thought she was 100% right.
Thanks for stopping by my piece. Glad you enjoyed it. I also like doing extra research on the sculpture. 🙂 The links give you a different view than just my photo.
One of the first lessons I learned as a teacher was that I didn’t know everything. Kids would say: “But you are a teacher you are supposed to know everything.’
I would reply: Well I know somethings but I don’t know everything.’
Unfortunately in my career I had a few student teachers who arrived at the school knowing everything and left realising there was still a lot to learn.
Teachers can make or break a person and I have only respect for most teachers. It is like any other job…if it is not a good fit, the person will shrink in the shadows but if it is the right place, they will shine. Great post, Michael.
Thank you Cheryl-Lynn, for me it was a lot of trial and error, more error I think until I found the best way for me to operate. I learnt lessons such as talk to the kids not at them. Take them with you and encourage them to explore and learn stuff on their own and most of all to respect them as people. I realised after a short while teaching that my students could teach me as well as me trying to teach them.
Interesting that you say that last part. Today I had a class interview for our service and one student asked how my experience working here changed me. I responded that I have improved as a counsellor due to what I have learned from youths who call every day…they have made me a better listener and professional.
Its about being humble enough to know that if you listen you will learn.
Great post Michael – love the lessons and the cruel humor implied as well. And well, fantastic responses and conversations happening in the replies here.
I suspect that your teaching days aren’t over yet Michael – we all learn so much from engaging with you. 🙂
Thank you MJ, well expect the lessons learned in these times will be from willing participants as I taught a few in my time who would have preferred to be in other places than my classroom. Have a great evening.
I suspect it is always the case, even for the best teachers – even with their “star students” who normally are engaged and connect. We all have moments when something takes us away from being in the present company of learning. If one’s lucky, someone has taken notes 😉
Yes well that’s what your friends are for I figure, to borrow their notes after class. In my last school that went on a lot.