Hello everybody,

I just got a reply to my last blog, which revolves around authoritative teachers and authoritarian ones.

http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/blogs/georginahudson/setting-positive-limits-classroom-2-authoritative-versus-authoritarian

I used an anecdote as an example of how an authoritarian teacher in my past used to control every move we made at the expense of our confidence.

I also highlighted the importance of feeling our own natural authority in class and negotiating boundaries, being capable of saying "no" as a healing resource in the classroom.

My reader suggested my judgement was clouded by that bad experience I referred to.

I'd like to share this with you and see what you think. Many thanks:

"How is it inevitable that controlling teachers are "bound" to POLLUTE ( emotive language ) their classes? What pollution are we talking about ? Are you not allowing your one bad experience to cloud your judgement ?

I have had several highly controlling teachers with similarly high expectations. I would not describe their demands as "impossible", and it did not automatically lead to a loss in confidence. Why do you assume that controlling teachers automatically become "impossible" ?

Similarly, I have had very controlling teachers who had very low expectations of me, and I did well despite their efforts"

Look forward to your comments! Georgina

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