Klarinet Archive - Posting 000410.txt from 1997/08

From: hlandry@-----.com (Harvey G Landry)
Subj: Re: major decisions
Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 01:32:26 -0400

I am not sure if you are quite ready to give up on the idea on public
school teaching, but it may be a good idea to know how to handle students
if you are ever in a financial slump. Again, like Sarah said, your
personal happiness is clearly more important than all the money in the
world, but I decided to write some tips on how to handle your students if
they are giving you so much trouble.

Disclaimer: I am no classroom teacher, but I have been through the
public school system as a straight-A student, honors band, and so forth,
so take my advice with a grain of salt.

1. You do not have to rule a classroom with an iron fist. If you want
students to respect you, then at least give them a little respect
yourself.
2. Say what you mean and mean what you say. No student will take you
seriously if you only threaten to punish them.
3. Do not show the students that you are letting them get to you. If you
do, you've lost the battle right there.
4. Set a general goal for the class and for each individual student. If
several students have a problem with embouchure, work a day on
embouchure. Make students play individually and work with them
individually. Don't expect everyone to be at the same playing level.
5. Do not have a class pet. Do not have a scapegoat.
6. Do not be afraid to discipline a student. Students will test you to
see if you will let them get away with murder or not, so get rid of all
discipline problems early.
7. Keep a sense of humor.
8. Do not expect gratitude for your hard work. That way when you do get
some, it will come as a pleasant surprise.
9. Develop immeasureable patience.
10. If all else fails, remember: You can do anything you want tomorrow.

Mel
hlandry@-----.com