Being a Teacher

Thursday, 16 September 2004

Today, Christy told me that Matt was talking to her about how the students don't listen to her and how they make comments that Miss Melton and Miss Mau don't hit them like she does. (It is part of Thai culture to hit a child on the back of the hand or arm with a ruler in order to discipline him/her.) We have been told by parents and other teachers to hit the students in this way if they are out of line, but of course we don't. Many Thai children are spoiled and coddled when they are young, and there is not much discipline in the home, and thus in school, the children are not as disciplined as your stereotypical Asian student.

Christy talked to Matt about how she is a new teacher, and how we have had many teaching experiences in the classroom. We will share ideas with her. In time, she will figure out what works and what doesn't, without feeling like she has to hit the students.

The three of us worked late into the evening tonight. I finally left the classroom at 10:30 pm. But, we did take a dinner break to go to Soi Sawng, where we met up with Tik and Aw who joined us for a bit. When we returned to the building, the creatures of the night were out to keep us company: the huge lizards, frog,large moths, and of course the termites and mosquitoes. Hopefully, they won't follow me home.