Bharathi Jagadeesh <bjag at ln.nimh.nih.gov> writes
(yes, I'm probably committing some unforgivable sin,
replying to myself, but I need to clarify)
> The teacher was
> considered a character in the school, and everyone who had been there
> any length of time knew his teaching style, which included requiring
> students to stand at their desk until he yelled "SIT" and we'd all sit
> down, assigning extra homework sets on the basis of class performance,
> holding the class hostage to the weakest students answers of questions.
This teacher did do what would be considered "hazing" by most of us,
even using the limited definition of "unnecessary tasks." I did not mean
to say that I would use such techniques, or that I support them. About
the hazing, I only mean to say that for me, it wasn't significant, and
certainly left me with no scars.
I also think that he created a competitive, academically challenging,
strenuous and tense environment that contributed to our learning. And
that I support.
Bharathi
