Finding the Right Balance as a Teacher - According to Star Wars

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Recommended: The role of teacher in motivating student

In the movie “Star Wars” the Jedi knights were fighting to have balance in the force. Today many people are also trying to find balance, but others always lean heavy on the other side. Today teachers either try to be cool and get walked on by their students or they are not assertive enough so they do not crack down on them. Some are aggressive and mean and therefore scare their students and still do not get any respect. If teachers can have a heart for their job and subject, have a balanced of lenience and strictness, are encouraging, can be engaging, and a positive role model then they can be an effective teacher and still be cool.

First, when reading the essay “Me Talk Pretty One Day” the way he depicted his teacher gave me a great dislike for her. She was effective as she put fear into them and the experience was like “being in the presence of a wild animal” (Sedaris 294). Her qualities were not so good. Telling things to her students such as ‘I hate you” can have hurtful effects as it did on Sedaris (294). One thing the reader does not know if the students in the class cared about using French after their time in France. They may have a hate for French because of the effect she had on them. I had a teacher who hated the side of politics that disagreed with her beliefs. I only learned in that class how great her beliefs were and the evil side that disagreed with her. I don’t remember anything else. A negative effect can have long damage on a person and what they choose to learn.

Furthermore, another problem with the teacher was she belittled them in front of their class, which could add to the fear of public speaking many people have (294). She oppressed them and demeaned them. Sedaris explained “learning French was a l...

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...eacher can still be cool and be an effective leader and authority figure.

In Conclusion, I think teacher’s shouldn’t be like a “wild animal “or impetuous (294). Teachers should not be abusive like the teacher in the essay. I believe if we can be encouraging by telling a student that they did good, but they need to work on a particular part. Instead of belittling them, ask them engaging questions to get them to expand their minds, or to think more provokingly that would have a bigger effect. If we find that balance in the “force” and fight for it and for our students we can have a positive effect and still be cool.

Works Cited:

Sedaris, David “Me Talk Pretty One Day” Models For Writers Alfred Rosa and Paul Eschholz. Tenth ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2010. 290-295

Hein, Steve “Earning Respect: Fear, Respect, and Obedience” http://eqi.org/respect.htm

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