4.2 To Sir, With Love -Notes 3

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 4.2 To Sir, With Love 

Q.1. Explain in brief the theme of the extract.

Ans - The primary theme of the novel are the student-teacher relationship , racism and prejudice. When Braithwaite first accepts his job as a teacher at Greenslade School, he is met with a bunch of arrogant, disrespectful and ill-mannered students who were well-known for their bad behaviour. Though angry and frustrated at first, Braithwaite eventually learns to be patient and tolerant towards their antics and develops a strong bond with each of them. Braithwaite is not only concerned with their academic progress but also takes a keen interest in their development as individuals. He even takes the time to find out more about their backgrounds and tries to understand the reasons for their behaviour. More importantly, he builds a relationship with the students, which is based on mutual respect. Braithwaite addresses the girls as ‘Miss’ and the boys by their last name and in turn asks the students to refer to him as ‘Sir’, relaying the message that a healthy student-teacher relationship is one which involves both, give and take. Though this method is initially resisted by the students, they eventually warm up to it. This can be clearly seen when Braithwaite expresses his appreciation of Denham addressing the senior girls as ‘Miss’. The extract highlights the importance of a teacher’s role in the lives of his/her students. Braithwaite’s influence extends far beyond his academic role. By choosing not to give up on his students, Braithwaite sets an example for how a teacher should be someone who is tolerant and understanding. Through Braithwaite’s role in shaping the personalities of his students, the extract demonstrates that a teacher’s work is not merely limited to the classroom. An important aspect of the student-teacher relationship is also the freedom to be honest. Braithwaite encourages his students to be honest and fearless, which is clearly demonstrated in Denham’s respectful but blunt criticism of the P.T. class, thus conveying the idea that students must be active participants in their own progress. His method of developing a relationship based on mutual respect is effective and results in the transformation of his students from mischievous children to young adults. Braithwaite witnesses this transformation with pride as he watches his students present the class report and admires them for the progress that they have made

Q.2. Describe the atmosphere of the school described in the extract.

Ans- The half-yearly report by the Students’ Council of Greenslade School was scheduled to be on November 15. It was one of the most important days of the year for the school. The programme was entirely arranged, presented and controlled by the students. They were expected to deliver a report describing what they had learnt in the half-year, which began after Easter. Thus, the report was extremely crucial for the students and the teachers because it offered the perfect opportunity of determining the academic progress of the students. In addition, it was a test of the organizational abilities of the students. The students of Braithwaite’s class were excited about the event and as the day of the event approached, Braithwaite found himself sharing their excitement. In order to prepare for the event, the students divided the responsibilities among themselves and drew up an official programme for the event. They took their roles as organizers very seriously and performed their duties like expert professionals. Watching his students take responsibility and behave like young, mature adults, Braithwaite was filled with a sense of pride. On the day of the event, the children made sure that they were dressed smartly and looked presentable, indicating, once again, that they were aware of the importance of the event. Miss Joseph and Denham, two senior students from Braithwaite’s class were chosen as the student representatives who would host the event and they made sure that every student was ready to play their part, thus displaying their leadership skills. Thus, the half-yearly report had charged the atmosphere of the school with excitement and anticipation and had provided the students with a platform to showcase their organizational skills.



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