The #MeToo movement had a significant impact in many countries, including India. In my city, there is currently a controversy involving a prestigious dance school, and while I don't know the details of the incident or who is at fault, I believe it's essential that there is a fair and impartial investigation when allegations of misconduct arise.
No, no, this is not about mansplaining me too movement.
One of the accused- a Mr. Hari, and he had given an explanation from his side. His contention was Bharatanatyam cannot be taught like physics or chemistry and that it becomes inevitable to make physical contact while teaching the art. (Hence, they have either misinterpreted it or they are quoting that as a mistake.) Well, this is where I think he is either an idiot or a useless teacher – that is you need to physically touch to give feedback (what we call as knowledge of performance KP) or even make them focus the attention on the body parts is just poor teaching.
So this is a chance for me ranting about learning and creeps
Our brains perceive things as a whole, rather than as a collection of parts. For example, when we see a table, we don't consciously think about its color, its shape, or the number of legs it has; we simply recognize it as a table. Our brains are not designed to work like Sherlock Holmes in movies, where we pick up on small details to solve a mystery. Instead, our brains automatically focus our attention on what it deems important.
Unfortunately, we don't have complete control over where our brains focus our attention. To change this, we need to train our brains to focus on specific things in specific contexts. For example, when a professional cricket player is batting, their brain automatically focuses on where the fielders are and how to hit the ball away from them, while ignoring other distractions. This ability doesn't come from simply sitting in one place and trying to focus on a ball. Similarly, if a cricket player were to switch to playing football, they would understand how difficult it is to focus on the ball and their teammates at the same time.
So, when Mr. Hari says small movements must be corrected and I need to touch them- no boss that’s not Learning a new movement or skill involves training the brain to perceive the whole action, not just isolated parts. Practicing hand gestures without the accompanying movements of the rest of the body may not be effective for learning, as the brain needs to learn how to coordinate all the parts together to perform the full action. Therefore, it's important to practice the entire movement as a whole to effectively train the brain and develop muscle memory. By doing so, the brain can better recognize the movement as a single unit and perform it more efficiently.
This also holds true for the many uneducated followers, who merely parrot what they were taught, rather than thinking critically about the approach. For example, some proponents of the Bobath or NDT techniques may simply put a child on a circus ball without fully understanding the rationale or considering the child's specific needs. Similarly, sports therapists may focus on training specific body parts without taking into account the athlete's overall physical development, and cardio therapists may view breathing as an isolated exercise rather than an integral part of everyday life. To effectively learn and develop new skills, it's important to focus on the whole movement or action, rather than just isolated parts, and to approach training with a holistic understanding of the individual's needs and abilities.
The second issue concerns Mr. Hari's teaching approach, which involves physically pointing out and correcting his students' mistakes. However, he lacks a fundamental understanding of the neurobiology of learning and teaching, despite being a dance teacher. It's unfortunate that the curriculum doesn't emphasize this crucial knowledge, but it's not just limited to dance teachers. Even neurologists and neurotherapists, such as speech or physical therapists, often lack a comprehensive understanding of how the brain learns.
Moreover, this teaching approach is flawed because the brain learns through movements, not individual movements. By focusing on specific parts of the movement, the overall quality of the movement can suffer. Additionally, this approach hinders the student's ability to learn on their own, as it places too much emphasis on the teacher's feedback. When a teacher asks a student to focus solely on themselves, it can result in poor feedback that impedes the learning process.
In summary, Mr. Hari's teaching approach is either that of a poor teacher or, in some cases, could be perceived as inappropriate (that’s being polite). It's essential to understand the neurobiology of learning and teaching to ensure effective learning outcomes, regardless of the subject matter. With access to a wealth of knowledge in the 21st century, it's important to utilize it to enhance teaching practices.
The third point is about the power dynamics that exist between a teacher and their students. As a teacher, you hold a position of authority and power over your students, which means you have a responsibility to be protective of them. It's crucial to avoid being defensive when confronted with feedback from your students and instead listen to their concerns.
Furthermore, it's important to respect your students' physical boundaries by asking for permission before approaching them closely or touching them. Even if a student consents, the power dynamics between the teacher and student can still create an uncomfortable or unsafe environment, so it's essential to be mindful of this dynamic.
In summary, teachers must recognize the power dynamics that exist between them and their students and act accordingly. They should prioritize protecting their students and be receptive to feedback without becoming defensive. Additionally, teachers must respect their students' physical boundaries by asking for permission before approaching them closely or touching them. By being mindful of these factors, teachers can create a safe and comfortable learning environment for their students.
You may be wondering why all these mansplaining:
The whole thing seems like what PT teachers may also have to be warry of. I do hear lots of stories of teachers being inappropriate with female students. Sadly, I am not inside the system to know for sure or act. Well, that may be my defense for being a coward. But I do think we need robust systems PT colleges to monitor and receive complaints. Even though there are systems in place- the creepy teachers seem to able to either silence the students or the systems are very weak. As I have little understanding of these, I am not getting into solutions for these. But it's high time we change,.
Well, sorry for ruining your “mood”.
PS- as i have no idea about any of the issue about Hari but it is my rebuttal for what he said in the interview
