Hong Kong Baptist UniversityEDUC 1080

“To Sir, with Love”Group 2

Keyman Ada Daisy Sandy Carlos Ben Issac

Role play (introduction of the main characters) Brief introduction of the movie Highlights in the movie Scenario and underlying philosophy discussion Related education issue discussion Messages from the film Limitations Feelings and conclusion

Agenda

comes from British Guiana holds a degree in Communication

Engineering no prior teaching experience

Role Play (1) Character - Mark Thackeray

student of Thackeray’s class troublemaker against Thackeray

Role Play (2)Character - Bert Denham

Student of Thackeray’s class has a crush on Thackeray

Role Play (3)Character - Pamela Dare

looks down on the students in North Quay doesn’t care about students at all discourages Thackeray from being a teacher

at North Quay

Role Play (4)Character - Theo Weston

is scared by the students supports Thackeray on outings

Role Play (5)Character - Gillian Blanchard

Brief Introduction of the Movie

It’s about… Mark Thackeray’s teaching experience Classifying teacher as a temporary job Using different teaching methods to teach his

students Building trust-relationship between his students Abandoning his engineer offer and deciding to

be a teacher

Racially discriminated teacher Racial discrimination was still existing in UK during

1960s A student racially discriminated against Mr.

Thackeray unintentionally

Unprivileged background students Came from unprivileged family Rejected from other schools Bad discipline and making troubles Ignoring rules and instructions Challenging teachers’ authority Not mature or ripe

Should they get more support from the society?

Highlights – Minority under Education

At beginnings After adjustmentsMethods Lectures (traditional

and one-way)Discussions (interactive)

Curriculum Stick with Curriculum(topics are restricted)

Free Curriculum(topics are free)

Materials Textbooks (limited in classroom)

Life experience (field trips)

Focus Knowledge delivery only Mutual respect and moral standard development

Teacher-student relationship

Strange Close

Highlights – Teaching Methods

Which one is better?

Every student was studying under the same curriculum in the movie.

They all experienced the same despite their different interests and abilities.

The curriculum was not suitable to all students!(e.g. A fat student was forced to do some exercise which was unachievable for him! Finally he was injured because of it!)

Both Pragmatism and Post-modernism reject all students studying under same curriculum!

Highlights – Curriculum

Learning experiences

Learning outcomes

Attitude Discussion and Q & A section in class

RationalObjectiveCalm

Skills Cooking class Cooking skills

Knowledge Visiting Museum Life-related knowledge

Highlights – Learning Experiences

What can students get from their educational experiences?(Aren’t they similar to pragmatist ideas?)

Mr. Thackeray

Mr. Theo Weston

Miss Blanchard Mr. Bell

Respect students Effective organization

Enthusiastic

Students’ nature

Not mature but can be changed

Rubbish Naughty Rebellious

Highlights – Comparison among Different Teachers

Let’s watch some video clips and discuss!!

You will have one minute for each question to discuss and we will pick one student to share his/her group’s opinion within 30 seconds

Scenario and underlying philosophy discussion

Which Teacher do you agree with?

Why?

Scenario 1

Theo Weston V.S. Mark Thackeray

Idealists: Mark Thackeray had high expectations and set high

standards of achievement for their students. Theo Weston just regarded them as incorrigible.

“They’ll happily be part of the great London unwashed.”

Realists: Mark Thackeray believed all students participant in a

general human nature. He just thought they were naughty and not good at study.

Theo Weston showed his bias on those students by using the word “bastard”.

Pragmatics: Mark Thackeray did not give up teaching the

students and solved the problem positively. Theo Weston just complained about the education’s

disadvantage but did not really think about the solution.

Post-modernists: Mark Thackeray avoided to use the contumelious

words to refer to the students. Theo Weston held the prejudice on students and held

the old canons on these disadvantaged students.

Theo Weston V.S. Mark Thackeray

Do you support this teaching approach?

Why?

Scenario 2

Idealists Realists Pragamatists

Post-modernis

ts

Their point of view √ × √ √

Yes or No?

Idealists:Mr. Thackeray asked his students to perform as

adults by tell them the perfect example of addressing girls and coming into the classroom.

Realists:They believe that subject matter knowledge and

liberal education are for all people regardless of ethnicity, race, gender, or socioeconomics class. But Mr. Thackeray taught them things totally different from the subject matter knowledge.

Reasons

Pragmatics:Mr. Thackeray started not to just present and

change the mode of class into interaction. Pragmatics believed that human intelligence comes through a process of interaction.

Post-modernists:Mr. Thackeray had the courage to break the

norm and used a brand-new method to teaching students. And tried to give them equal opportunities to speak themselves out.

Reasons

What was/ were the reasons for the teacher forcing the student to do the exercise which beyond his ability?

Was the teacher justified?

Scenario 3- Student – oriented or teacher oriented?

Idealism :

Striving for perfection is a desirable goal.

Realism :

Decisions should be determined rationally.

Pragmatism :

People should judge by the consequence of an action.

Post-modernism :

There is no universal truth.

Scenario 3Should the teacher force the student to do the exercise which is beyond his ability?

What do you think about the lesson? Do you agree with the importance of life skills teaching?

Scenario 4Creating new curriculum

Scenario 4What do you think about the lesson?

Idealism :

Teaching of truths.

Realism :

Students will have to cook someday in reality.

Pragmatism :

We should not be afraid of experiments.

Post-modernism :

Deconstruction of the old way of teaching.

How do you assess Mr. Thackeray by watching the video?

Scenario 5The moral development

Scenario 5

Idealism :

Inspires students as a role model by not being angry when injured.

Realism :

Understand more about the outside world (going for outings).

Pragmatism :

To grow means to have more activities.

Post-modernism :

Deconstruction of the old way of teaching.

How would you assess Mr. Thackeray after watching the video?

Let’s discuss some relevant education issue implied by the movie!!

You will have one minute for each question to discuss and we will pick one student to share his/her group’s opinion within 30 seconds

Issue-based Discussion

If education is not for achieving high grades and going on to University, what is it for then?

Attitude? Skills? Knowledge? Any others? What do you think?

Issue-based Discussion (1)

If education is not for achieving high grades and going on to University, what is it for then?

Different Answers Provided by Philosophy

Idealism : - Develops the mind and self

of the learners

Realism :  - Prepares practical men and

women of the world

Pragmatism : - Helps students become

more effective members of the democratic society (Growth)

Post-modernism : - Provides equality of

opportuniies, thus encouraging social and economic mobility

- Produces citizens with critical thinking abilities

Which is the most important role that teachers should play in education?

A constructor? A trainer? Knowledge deliverer? A mentor?

Or any other role? What do you think?

Issue-based Discussion (2)

Which is the most important role that teachers should play in education?

Different Answers Provided by Philosophy

Idealism : - A role model for students to

emulate- A moral calling- Skillful questioner who

encourages students to think and ask more questions facilitating learning

Realism :- Presents materials

systematically- Encourages the use of

objective criteria- Be effective and accountable

Pragmatism :- Identifies the needs of

learners and to serve as a person providing resources

Post – modernism :- Inclusive constructer- Curriculum creator- Without traditional authority

What are reasons accounting for the misbehavior of students?

We may take reference from “To Sir, with Love”!

What do you think?

Issue-based Discussion (3)

What are reasons accounting for the misbehavior of students?

Different Answers Provided by Philosophy

Idealism : -Poor moral development

Realism :-Lacking observable role model

Pragmatism :-Rebellious nature of human without appropriate control

Post – modernism : -Challenging the cannons and authorities

Should every student study under the same curriculum?

We may take reference from “To sir with love”!

What do you think?

Issue-based Discussion (4)

Should every student study under the same curriculum?

Different Answers Provided by Philosophy

Idealism :

Realism :

Pragmatism :

Post-modernism :

Which one do you think is more important in education? Equity or Equality?

We may think about the situation in Hong Kong nowadays!

What do you think?

Issue based discussion (5)(The most open-ended one!)

Aim of education is Holistic Education!

Holistic education/ Whole person education The suggestion of “To Sir, with

Love” on the aim of education is similar to that of HKBU!!

Messages from the Movie (1)Introduction of Holistic education!

Finding identity, meaning, and purpose in life (as Mr. Thackeray explained the meaning of studying in school to his students)

Emphasizing experiential learning (field trip to museum) Direct engagement with the environment (society) Using real-life experiences

Teacher is not a person of authority, but a friend, a mentor, a facilitator (Mr. Thackeray as a good example)

Cooperative learning instead of competitive Do you support holistic education?

Holistic Education

Not about teaching academic knowledge only Learn to be a whole person with body, mind,

emotions and spirit (e.g. Adult approach by Mr. Thackeray)

Includes a wide range of students of different learning abilities (e.g. cooking skills)

A variety of learning approaches to meet their diverse learning needs (e.g. Q&A and discussion)

Holistic Education

The movie reveals the poor situation of the minorities (both teachers and students) under meritocracy and tracking

It is unfair and unjustified that the students with poor academic performance receive less resources and opportunities in learning compared with the students who perform better (Such as the students in the movie could only study in a school with poor environment)

Do you agree with the movie producers?

Messages from the Movie (2)Should Meritocracy and Tracking be

used?

Teachers should choose suitable and different teaching approaches according to the abilities and characteristics of their students

“Adult approach” by Mr. Thackeray He used student-oriented approach instead of the

traditional teacher-oriented approach (chalk-and-talk approach)

(It is similar to both Pragmatism and Post-Modernism!)

Do you accept these views?

Messages from the Movie (3)Teaching should be student-oriented!

Teachers are responsible for excavating students’ innate abilities rather than instilling skills and knowledge only

“The majority of our children could be generally classified as difficult” Mr. Thackeray

(It is similar to Post – Modernism!) Do you agree with the above

messages?

Messages from the Movie (4)Discovering students’ potentials rather

than instilling knowledge!

Although “To Sir, with Love” can reveal the beliefs of idealism, realism, pragmatism and post-modernism to a certain extent, it only covers the western philosophy of education.

Other important philosophies of education are absent.

Traditional Chinese philosophy of education is not mentioned.

The Confucian educational theories are important philosophical theories that we should not neglect in teaching.

Limitations of the Movie

“ To Sir, with Love is classical and legendary! It includes plenty of educational issues which worth our deep discussions and reflections. Although it was produced in the 1960s, we can still learn much from the story. I wish to be a teacher as successful as Mr. Thackeray some day! ” Keyman

Our feelings(1)

“A teacher should know the students’ situation, what students really want to know or really want to learn as well as what is really useful to their future. Teaching students in accordance with their aptitude practically is important. In this movie, the teacher Mark Thackeray let the students learn more practical skills rather than the traditional knowledge taught in school, which really reminds me of the original aim of education. In my point of view, the aim is to let students equip with ability to survive and live a better life.” Daisy

Our feelings(2)

“To Sir, with Love is quite interesting and instructive. I suggest people who want to be a good teacher should watch this movie. I hope all of us can learn from Mr. Thackeray.” Isaac

Our feelings(3)

“To Sir, with Love demonstrates the importance of learning real-life skills apart from academic knowledge. It is also surprising how Mr. Thackeray could change the behavior of his students as someone without teaching experience and who initially took teaching only as a temporary job. I think he is a role model for we prospective teachers.” Ada

Our feelings(4)

“As a teacher, we should be patient. We cannot lose our temper because it will put bad influence on students. Mark Thackeray is a good example. He shows that we can build trust-relationship between students if we put more effort on students with patient.’’ Carlos

Our feelings(5)

“To sir with love” is really meaningful for us! As a teacher in future, I think we should learn from Mr. Thackeray, especially his attitude in education. Mr. Thackeray let the students ask him everything if they want. Students can be more interactive and interested in the classroom. Therefore, I recommend this movie to all of us!” Sandy

Our feelings(6)

“This is one of my favorite movies of all time. I can honestly say that it helped to inspire me to become a school teacher, because of the influence that one can have on the lives of young students. In this sense, this movie is probably the one that had the most profound effect on my life” Ben

Our feelings(7)

Variety of philosophical ideas could be found in the movie! ( Pragmatism, Post – modernism, realism, idealism)

Touching story!

A great role model for us as a teacher!

A master piece that every teacher should not miss!

Conclusion

http://www.articlesbase.com/education-articles/realism-in-education-1319851.html

http://www.parvez-video.com/idealism_theory.asp

http://www.conti-creations.com/PHIL.htm http://

oregonstate.edu/instruct/ed416/PP2.html http://research.kcg.gov.tw/Upload/EpaperFile/

634637955450822413.pdf

References

Thank You ~To you with love!

The End