On Being Strict

by John Bravo
(Kansai, Japan)

I teach English at a private junior,senior high school in Japan. A couple of the teachers are very strict. Probably too strict in the opinion of some of us.



I`m sure these strict teachers think they are doing the right thing. They perhaps feel they are whipping the students into shape--and if they don`t do it who will?



The Cost of this However is the Following:



Teachers like me get to teach them after their berating in
homeroom. They are teenagers, they need some opportunities to spread their wings or rebel. For us
gentle, warm, kind and fun teachers, it is in our class that they choose to do this.



Instead of whipping the students into shape, these teachers are causing problems for others. They should
allow the students to rebel a little bit. It is an
important part of growing up.



The students will be who they are no matter what, but these strict teachers cause them to displace their
energy and rebelliousness on other teachers.



Which is a shame and I bet the strict teachers have no idea that this happens.