My kids just started the school year yesterday and evidently there had been an edict handed down that the teachers should conduct some sort of ice-breaker with their kids in each class on the first day. My son, who is 15, said that one of his teachers asked the kids to describe the worst thing that had ever happened to them. She kicked it off by telling the class that she was a victim of rape and childhood sexual abuse.
My son, for the record, said that he did describe the worst thing that had happened to him. It involves a family matter that is a pretty open secret in our community. His choice.
What do you think of this as an icebreaker for an algebra class? I’m slightly disturbed, and not just because of the potential for personal embarrassment. On the other hand, perhaps she just felt that it really could loosen up the class and, maybe, let some kid know that they weren’t suffering alone.
I’m all for icebreakers, but one of the rules should be “keep it light and upbeat”. The way the teacher you are describing did it makes them sound like a bit of a psychopath! :eek:
I don’t think I’d put it that way, but I will be curious to meet her. Open-house may be kind of interesting this year. I suppose, after that, asking a dumb question about math will seem like a breeze to most of the kids.
Turn it around and have it be the greatest thing that ever happened.
If I had to do the icebreaker as described, it’d be the worst thing that ever happened, that I was willing to talk about in front of a bunch of strangers. Which would be far from the worst…
The only suitable reply to such an “icebreaker” is “I got to my first day of algebra class, and my idiot teacher told us a horrible story about the worst thing that had ever happened to her, and expected us to do the same.”
I wonder how most of the kids did handle it. I wouldn’t be surprised if she got a call from a parent or two. I guess I could almost understand it if it were a discussion course or seminar where she wanted the kids to be able to delve into difficult or sensitive topics without maintaining too many layers of b.s. But math?
I think you should write a letter to the Superintendent and Principal. That “icebreaker” was totally inappropriate, and I would not want that teacher interacting with my children.
That’s snappy and all, but it would be a horrible thing to say. I’m glad the students didn’t insult their teacher after she disclosed a deeply personal event. It might have taken her a long time and therapy to be able to talk about that to anybody. That said, yes, it’s a really inappropriate choice for an icebreaker. Those should be light and fun, and it’s not right to make students feel they are obliged to talk about very personal stuff in front of strangers and teachers.
Maybe the teacher was an undercover cop sent to uncover an underground sex smuggling ring. Did he speak with an Austrian accent and talk about his cancer-free diagnosis?
The whole icebreaker thing was a bit weird. It really did sound like all the teachers were instructed to do something “original.” A few of the crusty older males seem to have basically ignored it, but everyone else tried something. We will discuss it some more at home, but it may at least merit an email to the teacher.
:eek: That might be appropriate in group therapy, after a certain level of trust had been established and confidentiality assured. On the first day of algebra class? O.M.G.
