No reasoning is convincing

I care about my students. However, many of them are very lazy. They have problems handing in their assignments. They are now S4. It is too late to modify their study habits. I am partly to blame because I am too lenient and allow them to hand in their work late. Given that they have a busy schedule, I reason that as long as they do the assignments, I should allow them some flexibility. Diligent students benefit, I think. But obviously, lazy students will become lazier.

Eddie has been very hostile to me for reasons I don't know. Many other teachers also find him having an attitude problem and failing to hand in assignments. Yesterday, students were supposed to hand in the reading journal. He had not done it and he showed no intention of doing it even when I gave the class the lesson to finish their assignment. I stayed in the classroom after school, collecting assignments one by one. Only then did he start working. Students are supposed to cut 3 pieces of news about media, draw up a list of new words and write down the key points, not even a summary of the news.

At 5:20p.m., he and Martin, a Catholic, a repeater remained. They managed to collect only 2 pieces of news. I tipped them off, dropping hints on which page in SCMP they could get an appropriate piece of media news. It was getting late and my blood sugar level was getting low. So, I sent them home and told them to hand in their assignments before 8 a.m. this morning. In fact, a few other students needed to attend an extra History lesson after school. So, I let them off on the same condition too. This morning, I was exceptionally happy that Eddie was able to make it. But Martin failed to hand in his work. So, I went to class before school ended to detain him until 5 again.

Martin was not able to sit down to do his work properly. He sat near the window and his friends were his main distraction. He himself walked around the classroom, not doing anything important. So, I brought him to sit in front of me to finish his work. At last, he managed to finish at 3:45 p.m. Then, I insisted on detaining him in front of me so that he could at least spend some time to finish his portfolio which is due tomorrow. He started arguing with me, accusing me of being unfair. No reasoning was enough to convince him. Indeed, there is no point to refute his excuses. He did not appreciate the good will I have for him. I gave up and left the classroom.

My sweet Jesus, I understand now that no reasoning is enough to convince people of the love we have for them. Help me to radiate Your love more effectively so that they may appreciate. I pray that I do not distort Your face in front of men. Amen.

Comment from Eddie:
"Eddie has been very hostile to me for reasons I don't know" <??
你之前點對我你自己心照啦,, reasons i dont know幾好笑wor :P
F3果時係你針對我針對到出晒面喇你唔係唔記得呀?(第一堂rs堂我識刀唔識你,你第一句同我講就係叫我唔好影衰你,,咩意思?)
如果你真係對我無野既我屋企人刀唔會覺得你係有問題啦
你以前點對我我刀有忍喇,我睜係唔同你講野刀唔係好過份掛
唔好扮偉大喇唔該=D
f4 你針對martin佢刀覺得無乜野,但最唔鋸既係你屈佢..(prayer book果次)
如果你之前唔係咁既根本唔會搞到宜家關係咁僵
作為學生,我覺得作為老師既你唔應該係咁樣教書,,
針對人同屈人一定唔係教好學生既方法囉....(個人意見)

Comment from Martin:
我個日做完newscut之後去執野,你要我坐番上去
我同你講我咩都冇帶,包括portfolio,所以我問你可唔可以聽日先留
你話唔可以,冇野做都要淨坐,即係係度哂時間?
我今日有maths做咪留law
再之後你同我講話果度安全?(唔知我有冇聽錯)真係唔知你講咩sosad

Comment from JackyLi0808:
不同老師有不同教學方法
但我認為你的方法的確值得自我反思.
不同人的確有不同的處事方法
但為師應該以學生之心為先.
如果施以錯的教學方法或態度.
試問學生怎會對你認同  更如你所願  變好?
我深信我們 4L 是團結 , 肯上進的一班.  並不是你所提及的 " 無可救藥" .

April 30, 2008.