Wednesday, January 24, 2007

How Does One Respond?

Tonight's class was partially on the subject of school culture and how it affects the process of supervision in the classroom. The discussion was less than animated and dominated by the usual suspects. You know the ones...the sum total of their life experiences are so great that they simply must use any and all free air space to share them with the rest of us. Having had a particularly bad day at school and still feeling a little shell-shocked from the behavior of a colleague, I was sitting in something of a stupor. The endless drone of one classmate as he reviewed his own situation in his school was slowly lulling me into a gentle coma. Then I heard this:

I mean, like, I'm a man teaching in an elementary school. It's all women! It's hard to become a part of the group, ya know? I mean, like, what am I supposed to do, join one of their little knitting circles or something?

Seriously...

Where do you go with that? To pipe up over the audible gasps and, "Whoa's" of my classmates to point out that it is most likely his charming personality and tendency to categorize people by outdated gender roles that is keeping him from winning friends and influencing people seemed like too much effort at that point.

But I work in his classroom. Yesterday, I actually nodded off during one of his intellectually stimulating classes.

Perhaps I should bring some knitting along tomorrow. Just to keep myself occupied, dontcha know...

SA

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Isn't this the class where the instructor is a knitter????? Wasn't he paying attention on day one? Silly boy, he's not making any brownie points with the teacher that way.

April said...

Grasp a knitting needle firmly in each hand.

Insert said needles into subject's eyes.

Twist. Hard.

Anonymous said...

Does he say things like that all the time?

Sheila said...

One word...clueless!
Sheesh.
That sounds like a really tuff class to sit through...I feel for you.

Jeanne said...

Do it. Take the knitting. I dare you. Especially if you're still on the Instant.

Mia said...

i date you too *evil grin*

If anyone can make him eat his words.. it's you sheepie :)

Anonymous said...

I can see why he has no friends at school. I'm amazed the professor didn't eat him alive. Maybe she's saving that for the first exam.
Karen
http://nothingbutknit.blog-city.com/

Anonymous said...

Boy, Wednesday was just not a good day for us bloglandians. I was given some good advice, so I feel I should pass it on to you - sharp DPN's accidently left on someone's chair? Could make a valid point, pun intended. Here's hoping today is better for all of us!

This Weary Traveler said...

Yes, he should now have to join a little knitting circle.

Lazuli said...

Oh boy. I assume he knows you knit... in which case, that's just insulting! I say bring the knitting. ;-)

Anonymous said...

WOW! I'd definitely take the knitting. People continue to amaze me. And shame on the instructor for not pointing at that it is exactly this type of attitude that causes problems

sheep#100 said...

What a jerk.

Oh, yeah, and teach all of the kids (boys and girls) to knit.

debsnm said...

Take the knitting!! And point out to him:
1) Knitting has been used VERY SUCCESSFULLY to calm hyper-active kids (both boys & girls)
2) Perhaps his teaching certificate would be put to better use teaching something useful - like shop.
3) If he didn't want to join the knitting circle, why'd he choose
a. A profession filled with women
b. A profession where the presence of men is always suspect (check to see if he registered his sex offender status).
That should shut him up. :D

Cursing Mama said...

What April Said!!!!