Sensei is fuming 😡 \ stacker news ~BooksAndArticles

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1214 sats \ 23 comments \ @cryotosensei 13 Apr BooksAndArticles

I bite them like a dog gone mad and refuse to let go.

My school had Home Based Learning last Friday. At the end of it all, I realised that many of my students had not completed their assignments.

But the thing that triggered me was when I found out that a student had lied to me. He wasn’t at the clinic as he had claimed. I found out because I texted his mother, asking for the medical certificate. Lucky for me that I did my due diligence. He told a lie - which is my pet peeve with regard to character flaws. I cannot stand liars. Anyway, I went on a witch hunt last weekend. I hunted my students down one by one, tagged them on the class WhatsApp chat, and badgered them to complete their assignments. Boy, was I relentless. I spammed the group with updates of everyone’s progress. Hell, I even called three parents. The icing on the cake? I forbade some students from attending their co-curricular activities this Monday. Everyone would be housed in the classroom until late afternoon because Sensei needs to teach them a lesson on accountability. Hope I managed to regulate my anger in this post, and you don’t sense that I’m fuming

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460 sats \ 2 replies \ @dot 14 Apr

I used to know an old martial arts teacher. Strict man. One day, a boy in his class lied—said he was sick, but really just skipped training to play games. The teacher found out. I thought he’d be furious. But no. He just handed the boy a broom and said, “Sweep the yard for a few days.”

No shouting. No blame. Just silence and work. On the third day, the boy came up and said, “I’m sorry. I was scared, so I lied.” The teacher nodded and said, “We all get scared. But knowing how to make things right—that’s what matters.”

I think about that often.

I’ve had moments like that too—holding on tight to what’s wrong, chasing every little mistake, thinking I’m doing what’s right. But the tighter I hold, the heavier it feels.

I’m not angry at myself. I know I meant well. It’s just... sometimes, being too harsh shuts people down. And maybe what they really need isn’t a lesson in fear—but a chance to grow.

Some lessons don’t need loud words. Just presence. Just patience. And a little bit of heart.

24 sats \ 1 reply \ @cryotosensei OP 14 Apr

Thanks for taking time to recount your story. It struck a chord. I wonder if it took you courage to speak this truth, since we are crossing paths for the first time?

I feel that sometimes, a good teacher will thumb his students down. Otherwise, they will climb over his head, thus making classroom management difficult. And I agree with what you said. So, I ended today with this:

Willing to let go of my ego to take the first step towards reconciliation haha

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @dot 16 Apr

I understand the challenges of being a teacher. It’s a stressful job. There are times when I think, “Maybe it’s enough to just raise my own child to grow up well.” But some things aren’t for us to choose.

In our culture, there’s a belief about this. We call it: “The profession chooses the person.”

51 sats \ 1 reply \ @dot 14 Apr

There are times when I feel completely powerless—like nothing I do can change what's happening. In those moments, I step away from the crowd. Quietly, I write something down in my notebook. Then I take my bicycle and ride slowly through the streets, not really going anywhere, just watching the world around me.

I don’t remember exactly what happens after that. The details blur. But every time I pull myself away like that, things somehow feel a little lighter.

24 sats \ 0 replies \ @cryotosensei OP 14 Apr

You remind me of something similar that I have read before: our hands are not so big; they can only hold so much.

Taking a step away to remind myself not to sweat the small stuff sounds like a best practice!

148 sats \ 1 reply \ @south_korea_ln 13 Apr

Similar pet peeve here. I hate the bullshitters among my coworkers. I'm very good at discerning them.

Probably says a bit about myself. I'm good at bullshitting myself. Don't bullshit a bullshitter. That's what they say, right?

Still, I hate the fake it until you make it mentality. Even more because it has worked out well for some colleagues who got a permanent position thanks to that mentality. Maybe i should adopt this mindset too, at least until i make it.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @cryotosensei OP 14 Apr

I love this contradictory and self-deprecating comment. Put a smile on my face. Thanks! ☺️

48 sats \ 1 reply \ @Cje95 14 Apr

110% agree!!!! I have to say I’m happy to see a teacher put their foot down! If we let the kids get away with this growing up it will only snowball and that is TERRIBLE!

10 sats \ 0 replies \ @cryotosensei OP 14 Apr

I forced them all to stand in one straight line and scolded them batch by batch. Felt like the executor of a firing squad. Haha

I hope they all learnt an important lesson about accountability

48 sats \ 2 replies \ @Undisciplined 14 Apr

I went out of my way to structure my classes so that there was no reason for students to lie to me about anything (basically, it would just never make any difference in their course outcomes).

I had gotten really sick of students claiming family members had died right before an exam and I never wanted to call them on it, because of how horrible it would be to be wrong.

27 sats \ 1 reply \ @cryotosensei OP 14 Apr

You sound like a good teacher! Pre-emoting potential trouble spots to save yourself grief! Sensei approves

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Undisciplined 14 Apr

I do iterate pretty aggressively on the things that I don't like.

48 sats \ 1 reply \ @SimpleStacker 13 Apr

Boy, I know how you feel.

Do you know what's the deadliest day on college campuses? Right before an exam. (Seems like someone's uncle always dies around then.)

30 sats \ 0 replies \ @cryotosensei OP 14 Apr

Don’t students have to submit a death certificate or something? At least that’s what we need to do in SG.

How do you know when to call out someone’s bullshit and when to extend grace?

48 sats \ 2 replies \ @plebpoet 13 Apr

I sense that you are justified and ready to analyze

10 sats \ 1 reply \ @cryotosensei OP 14 Apr

You know what? That is true! After spending time with them this afternoon, I made a mental note not to let them try out a platform for the first time when they have to do Home-based Learning. The cognitive load associated with learning the ropes of something unfamiliar is just too overwhelming

How’s the next issue coming along?

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @plebpoet 14 Apr

thanks for asking my guy :D I am sitting down this morning to come up with the cover image

27 sats \ 3 replies \ @Aardvark 14 Apr

Note to self. Don't lie to sensei

42 sats \ 2 replies \ @cryotosensei OP 14 Apr

Especially since I can see you on YouTube! You look younger than I expected, honestly. Do people say that you have an old soul?

24 sats \ 1 reply \ @Aardvark 14 Apr

No, but I've always looked younger than my age 😅

21 sats \ 0 replies \ @cryotosensei OP 14 Apr

That’s a happy problem.

I still look like 25

24 sats \ 1 reply \ @Dkryptoenth 14 Apr

I don't know who needs to read this but I still got to let us know that "Each morning we are born again and What we do today is what matters most." A blissful day to you all, keep staying strong.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @cryotosensei OP 14 Apr

Thanks for the good vibes! You matter and you are enough!