Dead Poets
Sorry it's been so long since my last post. In the meantime, I switched classrooms with the 3rd/4th grade teacher (boy, that was work--so many books to carry) and finished up most of my lesson plans. The day-to-day stuff isn't finished, but that has to be done through-out the year, really.
I also watched the first of my "required" movies, Dead Poets Society. Let me tell you, that was so difficult. (note happy sarcasm) Of course you are probably wondering the purpose of watching this film. Everything kind of boils down to learning how to be a master teacher. Prof. Keating is truly a master teacher. Of course, he does have flaws, the greatest of which is his lack of communication/ follow-through with parents--a mistake that inevitably causes him tremendous pain. Also, his relationship with the administration isn't exactly a model of communication and understanding. But that can be carefully laid at the feet of hyperbole to make a point. Here is the poinTITLE: it takes more than just knowledge to make a great teacher. Keating brings several things to his class that no other teacher had done for these boys.
*He brings tremendous love and enthusiasm for his subject. By truly showing it to his students, they want to learn more about it. If he loves it so much, there must be something to it.
*He adds an air of mystery to his subject and himself. The very introduction of the "Dead Poets Society" to the boys creates something for them to discover. Keating makes poetry seem dangerous and tantilizing.
*He is a person they can trust and respect. As the students begin to see and understand aspects of Keating, they love him because he is trustworthy and demands that his students respect him for who he is.
*He keeps his students on their toes. Keatings boys never really know what to expect from him. Of course, for the sake of the film, we don't see the average daily class, but we do realize that he finds random ways to shake things up. He puts students on the spot, thus ensuring that all the students are paying attention as they might be next. He adds movement to class--they aren't stuck in a desk every class period. They go outside. They move around the school. Obviously this can't be done in every school all the time, but there are ways to add movement within the class, helping the students to stay aware and to realize that learning even literature isn't just about sitting in a desk reading.
*He relates his subject to every-day life--to reality. Keating puts the boys in context by showing them previous classes of boys who went through the same course, the same things. On the soccer field, he shows the boys that the emotions and ideas expressed in classic poetry are the same things they feel--universality. He brings his boys to the play, showing them the ultimate expression of dramatic poetry and that it can touch them. He doesn't leave poetry in the classroom.
*He opens new doors of thought to the students by approaching the subject in the opposite way that they expect. The boys are expecting dull, dry analysis; Keating grabs their attention by coming in a different door: the door of emotional expression. By changing their perspective, he enables them to look at things from different sides--rounding out their perception.
*He allows them access to himself beyond the classroom. The boys are able to see and test Keating in the "real world" beyond the structure of the class hour. They see his reactions and actions, giving them an opportunity to judge his character and see if he is consistent. He becomes a real person to them instead of "just" their teacher.
Now, obviously every teacher can't be a Micheal Keating/Robin Williams persona every second of the day. BUT, the things he does to awaken his students can be applied by every teacher. For a teacher in a classical school, this is even more necessary. Since the goal of classical education is to teach students how to learn, teaching them to love learning is vital. Bringing energy, trust, a variety of perspective, a grabbing by the collar to the classroom is essential. I would also suggest communication with administration and parents. (smile) Becoming a master teacher in any school doesn't happen overnight, of course, but applying these qualities to teaching is a major step along the way.