Keywords
self-awareness, self-reflection, teaching difficult students, compassion
Preview
Shirley Jackson’s immortal “Charles” recounts the mischievous deeds of Charles, a character created by the equally naughty Laurie. His mother, the narrator, blames her son’s poor behavior on Charles’ influence. She is blissfully unaware that her son is the reason for the kindergarten chaos; she is all too quick to begin searching for the most “haggard” face in the PTA crowd–unable to fathom that she might be the mother responsible for Charles. Such delusion!
As I was pondering the narrator’s lack of self-awareness, I found myself thinking: Oh crap, is that me? Am I the teacher who can’t be honest with himself?
Recommended Citation
Inouye, Ben
(2025)
"“Charles? We don’t have any Charles in the kindergarten”: Our Professional Responsibility to Compassionate Self-Reflection,"
The Utah English Journal: Vol. 53, Article 21.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/uej/vol53/iss1/21