Klarinet Archive - Posting 000729.txt from 1997/07

From: reedman@-----.com
Subj: Mean Clarinet teachers.. or perhaps not
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 12:59:59 -0400

Deborah,

I feel very badly for your young student that this summer camp was not a positive one, but
before you call the teacher in question (and I think you should) you may want to look at the
larger picture first.

It is highly possible that other emotional factors may have affected your student's
perspective. She may have been homesick or emotionally disoriented by the competiton etc.
Adolescents are known to go through major mood swings and can be EXTREMELY sensitive. It is
highly probable that the teacher at camp did not have either the sensitivity nor the nurturing
instinct that you have and very likely a very different style of teaching. For very sensitive
kids, directness or objective criticism will be read as "mean". Having been a camp
counselor/teacher myself (many years ago) I understand how difficult a job it is to take over
the positon of "teacher" in a student's life for only a couple of weeks. My experience showed me
that kids at that age can be highly loyal to their primary teacher and their ability to
cooperate with a new teacher is often impaired by this loyalty.

It may be the case that the camp teacher needs a good talking to, but try to maintain some
objectivity and get all the facts before going in swinging. I think your position will be much
stronger if you have a full perspective on the situation.

Clark w Fobes