Last week I wrote a blog post that tried to explain how I had used Lego in an AS level history lesson. The aim of the lesson was to get the students to articulate the difference between the Hitler Myth, projected by Göbbels, and the reality of Hitler as a leader. The students had to write about the differences and show the differences using a basic Lego kit made up of around 30 pieces.
On Twitter the response to the blog post was really positive. As was the response from the students to the lesson.
However, when I was looking at the statistics for my blog I noticed a large number of visits from two 'referring sites' - the TES and StudentRoom. Clicking on the link I found that someone had posted my blog post and asked whether the activity was "unacceptable dumbing down" of the topic.
What followed on both sites was a series of incredibly negative and offensive posts from people (some of whom I would assume are fellow teachers) panning me and the Lego activity that I had tried.
Amongst the personal insults there was an unwritten consensus that I clearly shouldn't be a teacher.
There were a couple of typing mistakes in the opening sentence which I should have spotted when I proof read the post but didn't. That said written communication has always been a challenge for me and there are probably other errors in my post (and probably in this one) that I haven't spotted.
As I read the posts on the message boards I couldn't believe the negativity and the personal nature of the insults. One of the people who had posted had clearly trawled through my YouTube channel with the aim of finding further evidence of my ineptness.
Having discussed this with my colleagues, and with several of my sixth form students, I have been struck by support I have recieved. Several students have spoken to me about how much they got out of the lesson and how it has helped them think about the topic of propaganda.
I realise how lucky I am to work where I do.
At the school where I work we always talk to the students about the importance of resilience. In the face of this abuse I have had to be resilient, it would have been easy to delete my blog, it would be easy to stop sharing my work, it would be easy to stop innovating, it would be easy to keep my head down and let the bullies win.
I would be lying if I said that the posts hadn't effected me but:
+ There is absolutely no way that I will cease to write my blog.
+ There is absolutely no way that I will stop trying to innovate.
+ There is absolutely no way that I will let the views of people who do not know me effect what I do.
