Colleagues say to me, ‘Your students seem to be enjoying themselves, they seem to be laughing whenever I walk by, you seem to be having a good time.” And the implication is that you’re a good joke-teller, you’re a good performer, but no serious teaching is happening. Pleasure in the classroom is feared. If there is laughter, a reciprocal exchange may be taking place. You’re laughing, the students are laughing, and someone walks by, looks in and says, “OK, you’re able to make them laugh. But so what? Anyone can entertain.” They can take this attitude because the idea of reciprocity, of respect,
...more
