[TPIN] "Crushing A Student"

[John Daniel]

Teachers are human and have bad days.  Unfortunately, sometimes we just 
burn out and lose touch with reality altogether.  And sometimes we are 
just bad teachers to begin with.

This was a sobering email to read, because as teachers, so much is 
expected of us!  It isn't easy to see ourselves through the eyes of our 
students all the time, but really, that's the gig.
John


> Dear TPIN:
> 
> Sorry, but I have to rag about this ...
> 
> I have a pair of students, two young brothers, both of whom play trombone.
> One has played for a year and the other is a raw beginner. Although I teach
> trumpet and jazz primarily, I took the student(s) on to get them started
> with fundamentals.
> 
> The Mother told me that the young beginner was "crushed" when he showed up
> for his first band lesson in school. Here comes the 4th-grader, all smiles
> and excited for his first day of BAND!!! 
> His older brother had taught him a note or two, so he was really looking to
> impress. Upon the kid getting set up, Mr. (A.H.) Teacher tells the student
> that his horn is a "piece of junk," and admonishes him "your parents should
> have NEVER got you that horn, it's junk!" and other idiotic comments. The
> kid was in tears Day One! 
> 
> I just don't get it. This guy has probably never played with anyone - except
> perhaps himself - and he's got the nerve to hurt a kid's feelings, upset the
> parents ("Hey, don't forget to vote for the music program in the budget
> vote!!!") and embarrassed himself. Even if the horn was "junk" (it was
> rented from a "preferred vendor on the Teacher's Music Store List!), why
> hurt a kid like that first day out?
> 
> It took me an hour last night to get the kid back on track emotionally and
> musically. By lesson's end, I told him he sounded like Joe Alessi - even if
> it was on ONE note!!!!
> 
> Nick
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