Finding a humourous way to let an unruly student know that they have overstepped the mark can be quite effective. It lets them know that you are disappointed in them without a loss of anger or creating a big scene.
However, when attempting to use humour in this way, please follow the following rules:
1. Never humiliate the student;
2. Never humiliate the student; and
3. Never, ever, humiliate the student!
Public humiliation is a huge demotivator, and it really hurts the same child you are supposed to be nurturing.
When a teacher decided to communicate displeasure in a student by reprising a scene from the hit movie Bridesmaids, the teacher didn’t just manage to break all three rules, but also managed to add violence into the mix:
THE family of a California high school student has failed to see the funny side of a teacher imitating a scene from the hit comedy “Bridesmaids” and allegedly trying to slap some sense into the girl.
Dionne Evans, a ninth grade student at Malibu High School, alleges that when she forgot to bring her homework to class on May 22 she was called to the front of the room and the unnamed teacher asked, “Did you see Bridesmaids?”
The teacher then allegedly slapped the girl’s face up to six times, TMZ reported.
It is believed the teacher was referring to a scene in the 2011 movie where one woman literally tries to slap some sense into another.
Evans’ family have filed a complaint with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. A spokesperson for the sheriff’s Special Victims Unit confirmed to the Santa Monica Daily Press that they are investigating the incident.
The teacher has since written an apology to Evans but her family have hired an attorney and are reportedly considering a civil lawsuit against the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District.
“My client has not been back to the class, she’s been doing her school work in the library,” attorney Donald Karpel told the Daily Press.
“She has been humiliated and devastated. She will be seeking counseling. It has been horrible.”
Bridesmaids, starring Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, centered on a series of misfortunes suffered by Wiig’s character after she is asked to serve as maid of honor for her best friend.
Some suggestions for other movies best left out of the classroom:
1. Fight Club
2. Bad Teacher
3. Kill Bill
Tags: Bridesmaids, California, Dionne Evans, Donald Karpel, Education, high school, Homework, Malibu High School, Movie, Movies, professional conduct, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, Slapping, TMZ, Violence
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