Age-Old Question Answered ; Teachers Use Humor When Pupils Get Too Inquisitive

Summary

---

DEAR ABBY: After reading your column this morning with the letter from the Arizona substitute teacher, I had to respond. I am also an older substitute teacher with white hair, and I, too, used to be offended when children would ask how old I am.

However, I found that if I seemed offended by the question, the children would be hurt and distant for the rest of the day. When I laughed and said something like, "Oh my, I'm old enough to be your grandmother," or, "Would you believe I'm older than dirt?" the children would laugh with me, and we'd have a positive relationship for the rest of the day.

See the full content of this document

Extract

---

Age-Old Question Answered ; Teachers Use Humor When Pupils Get Too Inquisitive

Substitute teaching is about helping the children to learn and have a good day while their teacher is out, not about making me feel good. When I can no ...

See the full content of this document

---