Teaching More Than You Think
Joe M posted in opinion on January 26th, 2010
An article at Ars Technica seems to indicate that anxiety toward math in female students might actually be ‘absorbed’ or learned behavior.
If you think about it, it only makes sense.
It seems that by some nature or legacy, females (of ‘the norm’) don’t seem to be mathematically inclined.
Since many math teachers are female, is it possible that they are not only teaching procedures and principles, but more?
I think this article scrapes the surface of a much larger picture.
Looking back, at my experiences, and those of my classmates and acquaintenances, I can draw more than just this one theory.
Let me preface, saying, teachers are human beings.
I had some wonderful teachers in elementary, middle, high school and college.
There are some really positive influences that I have had, that I attribute to those wonderful human beings.
They stimulated my curiosity, my intellect and much more.
Now, the other side… the dark side.
Not all teachers are quite so positive.
Many are overcome by ego, by bias (which is not necessarily equivalent to racism), by pre-disposition…
Just to name a few dark and not-so-desirable qualities.
I can remember more than one occasion, in which someone I knew had a negative experience in school.
One person I knew had a male coach for a math teacher.
I am not sure what sort of personal issues the teacher had… but he made a habit out of calling the person out in math class.
I am not sure how the person fairs with math, these days… but from what I observed… the treatment completely turned the person off, on the subject of math.
My point is this:
Teachers take on a great responsibility, when they choose teaching as a profession.
They are agreeing to help shape minds and individuals, and help prepare them for complete function in the real world.
Good teachers realize they are teaching, even when they aren’t aware of it.
It’s sad to say, but not all teachers are necessarily aware of that fact.
Teachers pass on much more that what is in a book or written on a chalkboard.