I love to make my students laugh. It releases some of their anxiety and makes them more comfortable with whatever activity we are are working on. I am very aware that although humour can be effective teaching tool, it can also be fraught with danger. It is so easy to unintentionally say something that will offend others.
The New York professor facing dismissal for making a joke about the Colorado movie theatre shooter made a terrible mistake. A mistake that was made infinitely worse with the fact that a student’s father was among the victims.
Whilst I don’t excuse his dreadful judgement call, I can’t help but feel that firing him would be a bit unfair. He is probably feeling sick about what he did and I am sure he never intended to offend.
Surely a genuine apology would suffice:
A United States Merchant Marine Academy professor faces dismissal for joking about the Colorado movie theater shootings in front of his students.
A student’s father was among the victims.
The New York Times says Gregory F. Sullivan has been suspended from his tenured position as humanities instructor.
The newspaper says the academy on Kings Point, Long Island, informed Sullivan on Aug. 10 that he had 10 days to contest his dismissal.
Click on the link to read Don’t Even Try to Huminise James Holmes
Click on the link to read How Can Facebook Allow James Holmes Tribute Pages?
Click on the link to read The Need to Blame Anything and Everything for the Colorado Shootings
Click on the link to read Insensitive ‘Parent Bashers’ Take Aim at Grieving Colorado Parents
Tags: dismissal for joking about the Colorado movie theater shootings in front of his students., Gregory F. Sullivan, Gregory F. Sullivan bad joke, Gregory F. Sullivan joke, Gregory F. Sullivan offensive comment, Gregory F. Sullivan suspended, James Holmes bullied, James Holmes bullied as a child, The motive for James Holmes killings, United States Merchant Marine Academy professor, was James Holmes bullied, Was James Holmes the victim of bullying
This entry was posted on August 17, 2012 at 12:32 am and is filed under Professional Conduct. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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Topical Teaching
Can a Teacher Be Forgiven for a Bad Joke?
I love to make my students laugh. It releases some of their anxiety and makes them more comfortable with whatever activity we are are working on. I am very aware that although humour can be effective teaching tool, it can also be fraught with danger. It is so easy to unintentionally say something that will offend others.
The New York professor facing dismissal for making a joke about the Colorado movie theatre shooter made a terrible mistake. A mistake that was made infinitely worse with the fact that a student’s father was among the victims.
Whilst I don’t excuse his dreadful judgement call, I can’t help but feel that firing him would be a bit unfair. He is probably feeling sick about what he did and I am sure he never intended to offend.
Surely a genuine apology would suffice:
A United States Merchant Marine Academy professor faces dismissal for joking about the Colorado movie theater shootings in front of his students.
A student’s father was among the victims.
The New York Times says Gregory F. Sullivan has been suspended from his tenured position as humanities instructor.
The newspaper says the academy on Kings Point, Long Island, informed Sullivan on Aug. 10 that he had 10 days to contest his dismissal.
Click on the link to read Don’t Even Try to Huminise James Holmes
Click on the link to read How Can Facebook Allow James Holmes Tribute Pages?
Click on the link to read The Need to Blame Anything and Everything for the Colorado Shootings
Click on the link to read Insensitive ‘Parent Bashers’ Take Aim at Grieving Colorado Parents
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Tags: dismissal for joking about the Colorado movie theater shootings in front of his students., Gregory F. Sullivan, Gregory F. Sullivan bad joke, Gregory F. Sullivan joke, Gregory F. Sullivan offensive comment, Gregory F. Sullivan suspended, James Holmes bullied, James Holmes bullied as a child, The motive for James Holmes killings, United States Merchant Marine Academy professor, was James Holmes bullied, Was James Holmes the victim of bullying
This entry was posted on August 17, 2012 at 12:32 am and is filed under Professional Conduct. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.