Harsh topic today on plinky. Describe the worst teacher you ever had. If you have read some of my earlier posts you would know I generally have an aversion to the use of -est words. I often can't think of something that would fit it. I have to say however for this one I do have one exactly.
First off I am probably going to have to explain some background knowledge for this one. Lets go back in time to me as a high-school senior shall we (and by senior I am referring in the Australian way to the last 2 years of high school years 11 & 12).
Tallish, a little overweight, about as extroverted as a brick wall. I belonged to one of the more modest of the high school social groups. Moreso even I belonged to a subset with my two best friends and we basically spent all of our lunches in the library. Yep the most outrageous things I got up to at school was breaking a library rule or two. At this point I will also mention I was daughter of a chemistry teacher (not at my school quite intentionally).
Nevertheless I was reasonable well known amongst my classmates. The top of the class generally is. I'm not blowing my horn I just happen to be alright at academics and in public schooling. I was not alone at the top there was another of the boys who was known to beat me at least as often as I beat him. So basically in classes like maths or physics my opinion had a far bit of sway because I knew what I was talking about.
The worst teacher I had was thankfully only ever my substitute. Before you go saying that can't have been so had. I had him for 6 weeks of physics due to some issues in programming a real teacher into the class (We ended up with a second year teacher who has subsequently given the teaching scene the flick to be in his band full time nevertheless he was one of my best teachers. Goes to show some people just make good teachers.) I also had him for about a week in maths. He has the dubious honour of being the only teacher I ever outright disrespected. The only teacher to threaten to kick me out of the classroom.
Why? Because I considered him to be a stupid, stupid man. I will point out my mother was thoroughly in agreement with me. I was trying to think of how to describe his appearance best. I remember him as a cross between Einstein and a clown. Though his intelligence was far from Einstein and his 'stories' which were all he did do in class were completely pointless but not funny enough for him to earn true clown status. At least not in any positive sense.
I think my primary reason for disliking him is that we didn't do any and I mean absolutely ANY work while he was in charge of the class. I have far more important things to do in senior high level maths classes than sit around twiddling my thumbs and ignoring what some sub has to say.
Worse he didn't seem to get it that what he was doing wasn't helping my education in fact it was hindering it. When he did fry to lead the class through... well anything... I found it frustrating that I knew more about the subject matter than he did. So I acted out. I blatantly disrespected his wishes and talked back to his face - standard operating procedure for a lot of high school students sure but not me. I am and have always been a 'Yes sir, no sir' kind of student.
I always remember it as being almost kicked out once but in fact it was twice. One of those times I managed to get HIM to leave the classroom. I think he was a little afraid of me for some reason. Probably unlike the scarecrow from the wizard of oz and himself I actually had a brain - who knows. The other was in physics... I had just been rather chatty I'm pretty sure.
Anyway the day I made him leave the classroom. It was during his time in maths class. By which time I had already had to put up with him for 6 weeks as a useless physics teacher (how can you not learn ANYTHING in 6 weeks of year 12 physics) and a couple of other one-off substitutions. He arrived late-ish to class so most of us were in there seated. At which time I didn't realise that it was to be the dear old clown coming to substitute.
He was telling us about the fact that our teacher had gotten an unfortunate injury and he would have to be here for the next 3-4 days blah, blah, blah. No Macca was terrible though, another great teacher I had. Then he tried to start class with us all continuing to talk. Then he said something dumb (its too long ago to remember specifics). And dared to suggest that I was being unruly, which was true but nevertheless. I suggested that he leave then. He said instead he would go out and come back in again so we could get to work.
I merely suggested once more when he came back inside that he stay outside for the duration of the lesson. You could have heard a penny drop. All eyes were on me and as happens so rarely in disrespectful situations between students and teachers ALL of the students were on my side. Hell most of them (sans perhaps my close maths buddies) were surprised I would take a stand like that one. The look in his face was worth it I have to say. He looked pathetic torn between actually giving disciplinary action to me while and knowing that he was powerless to do anything to me. Ah the sweet satisfaction of winning it over on a teacher you hate.
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