Your Dad did What?

Where they have been, if they have been away,or what they’ve done at home, if they have not –you make them write about the holiday.One writes My Dad did. What? Your Dad did what?

An impersonal way to refer to the pupils

Questions suggest the teacher’s anger

That’s not a sentence. Never mind the bell.We stay behind until the work is done.You count their words (you who can count and spell);all the assignments are complete bar one

and though this boy…

Teacher only concerned with grammar Teacher is strict

Suggests the

teacher feels

superior to the pupils

Enjambement reflects how she will not stop to find out why; just jumps to conclusions

and though this boy seems bright, that one is his.He says he’s finished, doesn’t want to addanything, hands it in just as it is.No change. My Dad did. What? What did his Dad?

Her tone suggests he is being defiant

Repetition of these words reinforces teacher’s

annoyance

You find the ‘E’ you gave him as you sortthrough reams of what this girl did, what that lad did,and read the line again, just one ‘e’ short:This holiday was horrible. My Dad did.

Teacher not interested?

Link between missing letter and the grade she gives the work

Makes it clear why pupil wrote what he did - makes reader feel sad

Clashes and CollisionsHow does this poem fit into the theme?

• Conflict between teacher and pupil

• Misunderstandings can lead to conflict

How can you link it with the other poems?

• Stereotyping – not taking the time to find out the truth: Half-Caste; Parade’s End

• Conflicts that occur between adults and children / teenagers – “Catrin”; “Our Sharpeville”

• Loss – “Catrin”,