QR for 'Fires in the Bathroom' - Chapter 2

The second chapter for 'Fires in the Bathroom,' by Kathleen Cushman, built on the surprise I felt while reading the first chapter, where a precise balance was the key to being a good teacher. This is incredibly important when establishing a lasting reputation with a school and the students in that first class will be the deciding jury.

The idea of maintaining a balance comes through with the expectation (Cushman, Kathleen. 'Fires in the Bathroom.' New York: The New Press, 2003. Pages 17-19) from the students that the teacher will be successful if they manage to exude the authority necessary for order, but still show an interest in both their respective subjects and the students learning the subjects. Authority and effectiveness are two elements within the overall umbrella idea of balance; on page 21, Lauraliz describes the difference between two of her teachers. The one she liked the most was not necessarily the one whose teaching was most effective. The general consensus, shared by myself as well, by the end of the chapter is that both are important characteristics to maintain and develop.