Teaching & Learning

Whiplash is about a student drummer who endures constant physical and emotional abuse from his music

teacher, but will not give up. This is an example of problematic teaching. The excessive use of language and violence in this video is a clear representation of what a teacher should not be like. This teacher works his students to the bone. Only two things can bring a student to work this hard. Fear, dedication, and love. It is obvious this teacher uses fear to control his students and to run his classroom. This fear can be detrimental to a students  ability to express themselves. Teaching using fear often leads students thinking self deprecating thoughts. This way of teaching also leads to either students falling out of interest in the subject. Or leads to students overworking themselves, to an unhealthy point. In my opinion teachers should be there to teach their student in a way that they can respond positively to. Good teaching not only involves teaching the course material in a way the students will respond to and understated. But also life skills that can help them inside and outside the classroom. It is important to teach healthy learning techniques and take the time necessary to help any struggling students or students that have a desire to become better. In this clip it is clear that the teacher does not take the time to teach his student techniques that will help him become faster, but instead the teacher yells at him and uses fear to motivate him to do better. Another reason this is problematic teaching is the teacher pins the students against each other driving each one to their braking points for an unnecessary and unhealthy amount of time. This can cause tension among the students, creating an un-supportive and rage full environment for the students to work in. This kind of environment makes it hard to learn and even harder to develop social skills that may be necessary in everyday life. I chose this video because I feel passionately that this is the exact opposite way to run a classroom and teach a student. I feel that one of the most important aspects of good teaching is being able to create a safe space for students to learn in and feel accepted in. Also, when I was learning my instrument and learning music, I messed up all the time, I never played anything perfectly, but my teachers never gave up on me. Although, I have been belittled and know what it's like to try your hardest and still receive harsh criticism. I know a little bit of how it feels to be on the other side of being yelled. And although it helped me to be more determined and and to work harder, it could have easily detered any student from picking up an instrument again. I chose this video because it reminds me of the kind of teacher I never want to be.