Role Reversal
I’ve done my fair share of teaching at university over the years. Mainly first and second year programming, but a fair few people have been through the doors. Some even commenting on how cool my hair is (I’m still not sure whether they were being sarcastic or not. My hair is cool).
As a direct consequence I know a lot of young ‘uns around the Computer Science Building. And therefore shouldn’t have been surprised when I walked into a tutorial for one of the subjects I’m studying this year and realised that I had at one time taught about half the class. I was surprised, however, when it turned out that one of my good friends from my teaching days was taking the class.
This was a good thing and a bad thing. Good because it meant I didn’t really have to introduce myself to the class because they already knew me, and also good because I knew it was going to be a good tutorial (this friend happens to be quite a good tutor). Bad because this tutor that I know so well decided to pick on me for the entire 50 minutes and make me answer all the questions. Sure, that’s not too bad really, but the real clincher was what to do about the students I had taught at one time or another.
Should I ignore them and pretend I’ve never met them before (not entirely wrong, seeing as I’m so terrible with remembering names)?Or should I sit and chat to them about the good old days when they were my students, hoping they don’t bring up the poor quality of my teaching, or blame me for having to re-do the subject?
In the end I wasn’t given a choice, as the tutor loudly announced that I had taught most of the class, and that I would be first name out of the hat whenever people were picked to ask questions. Oh joy.
March 12th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Status quo ante?
Just remind your fellow peers that back in the day they did all the work for you.
I’m sure you can endure the grillings of your overzealous tutor as long as you have half the class fulfilling their previous role in the Master-Slave relationship (that, or you’ve got the Will-Midgley-Bullshit-Factor™ switched on).
“Oi! Minion! Where’s that tute homework of mine you were expected to do without me telling you to do? Just remember that I could’ve flunked you back then, but I’ve kept you alive so that you could repay your debt.”
Yes, he who has the biggest hair wins.
And I’m still a tentative for this Saturday.
March 12th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
JAr… surely you know just how hard it is for will to be that fucken great all day long
March 12th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
That’s why I teach primary school - they know less than me, and if they give me lip, they’re (to quote the Olsen twins when they were cute): IN BIG TROUBLE MISTER!
March 12th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Jar: I hadn’t thought of the minion approach… It’s a good one, which is obviously working for other members of the community. I shall put it into practice next time I’m in the tutorial.
Big hair for the win.
LMR: Do you put the students in a dunce’s corner? Because that would be great.
March 17th, 2008 at 12:06 am
Sheesh Will, the politically correct term is the “thinking corner”.
March 18th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Yay for photos!
March 18th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
noice photos… are lacking a handsome and and ever so popular me… sorry, but heaving up my stomach all saturday really did take far too much a strain on me… fucken doctors and their stupid prescriptions
March 30th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Haha I haven’t read your blog in a while and only just saw this. You didn’t mention that once the formalities of the tutor-student relationship finishes at the end of the tutorial, you and said tutor heads off to one of the lawns and have lunch together. Talk about conflicts of interest!
April 7th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
It’s true, there may be conflicts of interest. Maybe next time we should go to the pub afterwards Lewis?
April 17th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Only if you’re buying mate :P. Though I doubt you’d find a $20 note in your pants pocket every week!
April 29th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
No, in fact it happens only rarely. But it is a Good Thing when it does happen. It’s enough to make one’s day!