Comments on: Why do (some) Teachers on Twitter seem so unwilling to learn?

By: SirTeachAlot

Thu, 25 Aug 2016 01:44:00 +0000

“Because, sir, teaching young gentlemen has a dismal effect upon the soul.It exemplifies the badness of established, artificial authority. The pedagogue has almost absolute authority over pupils: he often beats them and insensibly he loses the sense of respect due to them as fellow human beings.He does them harm, but the harm they do him is far greater. He may easily become the all-knowing tyrant, always right, always virtuous; in any event he perpetually associates with his inferiors, the king of his company; and in a surprising short time alas this brands him with the mark of Cain. Have you ever known a schoolmaster fit to associate with grown men?” -Patrick O’Brian

]]>

By: Juliet

Wed, 24 Aug 2016 21:47:54 +0000

Online discourtesy is the new road rage. I’ve been surfing the net since the very early days, and it’s always been the same. I remember how disconcerted I was by the first flame wars between otherwise normal people. In one group, we all eventually met up and old enemies were nice as pie to each other, in the flesh, so to speak. I’m still a bit taken aback by seemingly personal attacks and an unwillingness to brook any disagreement or to discuss rather than simply assert, but I feel I’ve now had 20 or so years of maintaining my cool and filtering. It’s going to have to be a skill we learn.

]]>

By: Richard Holme

Wed, 24 Aug 2016 18:37:09 +0000

Thanks for this. I’ve challenged people on Twitter myself but really try to be civil. As an ITE lecturer I feel it is important to demonstrate and model criticality but realise, even with social media where hierarchies are flatter, there is a risk of causing upset and that does not help anyone in education. I suppose it would be good for peers and friends to point out if someone has overstepped the mark. Anyway a thought provoking post so thanks!

]]>