Is it wrong to make jokes in the classroom?

Question

I work as an English teacher in a private school and sometimes I tend to use humour while explaining difficult points to pupils or let them ask "funny questions" ,in other words, queries that aren't serious enough to be uttered (likely to excite laughter) but could really trouble the pupils' mind. I thought that humour was a clever way to attract their attention and make the lesson less boring. And it worked! The pupils loved it! However, my superiors don't want to hear pupils laughing; they want me to teach English in a more serious tone. Ultimately, I'm going to comply with their suggestions but deep inside I don't want to; I thought that using humour at times was a positive thing.

I don't use humour at the expense of the learning process.
I do take pains to present and explain the material accurately and in detail. I just use it as a means to facilitate and/or reinforce knowledge.

Yes, but my boss doesn't like it.
What if he fires me?

Answer 1

I would say just tone it down a little. You can still make the lesson fun by using humour, (a boring teacher is an easily ignored teacher) but maybe just don't do it as much. Your superiors may not quite understand how things are in your classroom - if they hear laughter regularly & that's all they really know about your classtime, it doesn't give a very good impression.
Find some middle-ground on the issue. Try to not make things too funny that the kids laugh too loudly too!

A friendly teacher with a good sense of humour is much better than a totally serious & boring one. The only thing I would say to watch out for when being the friendly/funny type of teacher is to make sure the kids know you're in charge, & that you can be strict when you need to be - I think that it is more likely for kids to see a funny teacher as a laugh, a friend, & not necessarily someone to look up to & respect the way they should - an easy-going teacher who you can get away with things with.
I'm not saying you are like this, just that the two often go hand in hand.

To be a good school teacher (in my opinion) you need to either be so strict that the kids are scared *not* to learn(not the better option but that method does work) or someone who they can relate to & enjoy the company of but with knowing that when they mean business, they really mean it.

Answer 2

Im a student and I also go to a private school. I feel that humour an be excellent if used at the right times. When you want to do something serious, make sure you get into a serious mood, and then can make your point well.

However a bit of humour never hurts. If you cant do it that much in class time, try and have an easy "2 mins" just before the end of the lesson where you loosen up a bit or when everyone is doing a quite individual exercise a random joke never hurt.

I think that humour does work at times, but you must use it correctly or it can even break concentration - perhaps even when u go around the class you could just crack a joke with a few people!

Good luck

Answer 3

Humour is fun and can make a dull subject or topic more interesting.

When I was at school, my English teacher was an American and he was brilliant. As a result it was one of my favourite subjects. More often than not, he would have us listening to tales of his youth back home in the USA and he'd get us involved in discussions that we could have a debate about. Sometimes all this would be at the expense of what we were actually supposed to be learning about that day, but the lessons were always enjoyable and I learnt a lot of things from him.

Speaking from personal experience, I always remember the teachers that were funny and interesting. If a teacher can connect with the class then they're doing something right, even if the original planned lesson ends up out the window.

English is possibly the subject that's easiest to add humour into, because even if you're just talking about things, it's still 'English'. I think if your teaching methods are working for you, then you should stick with them, whatever anyone else says. Good teachers seem to be a rare breed these days.

Answer 4

well firstly i wish u were my teacher when i was at school 20 odd years ago as u sound like a fun teacher---well i think u are doing a great job making pupils laugh is a very good thing as i feel it makes them more relaxed ur superiors r just boring old gets also they feel they can talk to u better no in u can take a joke 2 i think it is wrong that u r told to stop it i feel ur superiors have a very sad life if thay r treating u this way -- (ps tell them i said laughter is a good thing and u need 2 get a life ur all just boring) also take no notice and just see what happens may b ask the pupils what they think for some feed back good luck any way hope u find the answer

Answer 5

As A Secondary School Student I Can Tell You With All Honesty That EVERYONE Hates History, Music And History In Spanish (Bi-Lingual School) Because The Teachers Are SO Boring. Our Music Teacher Made Us Listen To The Same Beatles Song 7 Times In A Row!!! And Would Have Gone On Is We Haden't Almost Revolted.

Fun Teacher = More Interesting Class = Better Students = Higher Rating Of The School = Bigger Budgit = Higher Wages For You (And Your Bosses) :D

We DO, However Love Mathematics 'Cos We Like The Teachers.

Answer 6

Keep doing what your are doing!! I have always been very interested in the methods of teaching ... I had a number of teachers at school who were truly apalling .. but had some really talented ones too... some used humour and others did not... so it's not essential.

I became more interested in education when I served in the army ... many of my comrades were of fairly low intelligence and had never excelled academically - the armed forces, however, find that it is possible to teach/train anyone!! This is achieved by applying the correct methods of instruction.

When I was on an instructors course, we had a fantastic lesson on "keeping it simple" .... this consisted of one instructor teaching another how to peel a potato....

... Part 1 was a lengthy description of the process, using the most convoluted terms possible (e.g. "clasp the tuber firmly between your phalanges and apply the implement to the epidermis at such an angle as will permit the optimum length of shallow stroke, facilitating the removal of a strip of the epidermis")... this went on for 20 minutes and ended with the instructor requesting the "dummy student" to carry out the process.

Part 2 consisted of the instructor giving the student a pail of potatoes in water and a potato peeler; he then picked up a potato and peeled it ... then said, "now you do it!!"

We were in stitches ... it had been like watching stand-up ... but the effect was perfect... none of us ever fell into the trap of over-complicating a lesson or using description, when demonstration would suffice.

Learning is often dull and joyless - if you can teach kids with the use of humour, then you should definitely do that.

If your superiors can't understand that, then you should ask them to judge you on results ... can't they understand that you are engaging the pupils and that is more valuable than having them drift off due to the dullness of what can be a very dry subject.

You have my vote!! Don't go changing!!

Answer 7

The danger is - perhaps - that others may not see the humour and it may be that you will have to make it clear that you are joking. In my youth sarcasm was often used to humiliate children - myself included - and that is now frowned upon I think.

Do you recall the film "Dead Poets Society" where an inspirational teacher [such as you may be] was ultimately beaten down by the system. It could happen! I am troubled somewhat by the use of the words "my superiors". In what way could they be superior? It seems really that you need to have a discussion with them on a level basis to explain your methods in a measured way with evidence that they work. Are your students results as good or better than others? I did OK with English at school but cannot remember any inspirational teachers. I wish you had been my teacher!

Answer 8

The age old question of occupation versus vocation. If it's the former then you will abide by what the bosses say. If however, it is the latter, then you will do it your own way and face any potential repercussions with the establishment willingly. If this should happen, get your point across that if they (your so called superiors) are really interested in the full development of the children, then the only right way is the way that works and not what has been the tradition - which is nothing more than laziness under the false veneer of respectability. They may not like you, but they can't fire you if your approach gets the desired result from your students in the way of grades.

Answer 9

Maggie ,its not everybody's cup of tea to have a good sense humour. It requires high intelligence to crack 'good' jokes. Every teacher is trained to teach his/her subject. But still it requires a human touch and interplay to render a successful classroom discussion. Why else do we visit Yahoo answers to seek an explanation rather than visit some website that has loads and loads of 'dry' information packed in it. We are responsible adults and perfectly understand that we have more to teach in less time. If your authorities are worried that you waste time by making jokes, humor them too! They will realise that you have a knack of making students a ease and they will adopt a softer approach toward you. Its likely that they might also take a learning from you if you do it well and set a new standard.
Sometimes we do go overboard unwittingly in trying a new idea and it must not ultimately 'undermine' your role as a teacher.
I know this has no relevance to your question, but since you are an English teacher I take this opportunity. If you consider taking up another job would you like working in India? Indians are increasingly accepting overseas job, hence the need to learn English. Not that there is dearth of teachers in India, but they are not upto the mark when it comes to communicating or writing in English. School authorities aren't somehow open to idea of having a national of an English speaking country teach their children. As is said, three things are too difficult to say, "Sorry, I love you & Help" Visit any Yahoo India question and you will find every 10th questioner asking about 'how do I improve English, how do I write good English essay, how to increase vocabulary etc...

Answer 10

Humour is a fabulous way to help something stick in the mind so I don't see any problem with it. As long as your pupil's are laughing with you and not at you then you've really got it made. Sounds like the 'powers that be' that are moaning about it are the ones with the issues.
I home educate my 2 squids and if there was no laughter in our house I would think I had a serious problem!
Well done for sticking with working in such an awful institution, hope you can continue to brighten everyone's day!