I remember when Jessica and I first started dating. I made a glib comment about how a person’s reputation doesn’t really matter. Of course I was wrong and she corrected me, even quoting Scripture to lay a foundation for her argument. Today I see the truth of having a reputation each time I enter a classroom to substitute.
Whenever I teach for the first time in a class I introduce myself as “Mr. Brammer” telling the students that they can call me “Mr. B” because its easy. I then tell them of how before I became a teacher I was a bodyguard in the US Navy, working most of the time with the Marine Corps. This is true, of course, as my job description as a Religious Program’s Specialist was to be the chaplain’s bodyguard in times of war. Even though I only had to act in that specific capacity once throughout my time in the service, I still emphasize that part. I want the students to have a slight (yet healthy) fear of me. I then explain to them what I expect of them, which mostly just consists of following instructions and not talking at inappropriate times.
I love it when I return to a school or classroom and the students see me sitting in the desk of their normal tacher. Many of them will turn around and whisper to their friends, “That’s Mr. B. He’s the Army/Navy/Marine guy. He’s strict. You better call him “Sir” or you’ll be in big trouble.” Have I ever told them to call me “Sir”? No, unless they think they can call me their “Dude/Dog/Bro”. Then I tell them that they can call me “Mr. B” or “Sir”. But do I correct these students when they warn their friends? No way!
I like having a reputation in the schools I go to. Most students discover that if they just follow instructions, we have no problems. Teachers have discovered that they don’t have to assign busy work when I am subbing for them because the students WILL get their work done. This has gotten me a lot of jobs lately. I thank God for the work.
[Photo by Storm Crypt]
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Here is a quote I like: “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.” — Warren Buffett