Module 1 assignments 2 and 3 were to analyze the meaning of the student essay “Rick” from Reading Critically, Writing Well, and to analyze the writing. I posted my work just under an hour before the deadline. My response on the meaning of the essay was significantly different than those of the other students.
In the essay, Brad describes what a wonderful teacher and water polo coach he has always heard Rick to be, then his initial confrontation with Rick when he tries out for the water polo team. Rick is described as being unfriendly, imposing, and menacing, and this perception causes Brad to question his own adequacy. Throughout practice sessions, Rick is critical of Brad and unleashes venemous invectives upon him. Brad tries to quit the team, and Rick tells him brusquely that he can’t quit before the first game.
Brad decides to work his ass off, then quit the team after the first game, to show Rick what a good player he has lost by his callous treatment. The team wins the game, thanks to Brad scoring a record number of goals and making good defensive plays as well. After the game he is prepared to quit, when he sees Rick smiling for the first time, and congratuating him.
I made a point of not reading the other student’s reponses before posting my own. Almost everyone else focused on how Rick was just using a motivational technique to force Brad to really push himself to the limit. I don’t disagree with that, but unlike my classmates, I don’t find it admirable. My impression was that Rick was a manipulative, Machiavellian asshole. I compared him to the stereotypical boot camp drill seargeant abusing the inductees. Except that you would expect to graduate from boot camp in short order, and not have to deal with that drill seargeant further, while a coach should presumably be planning to work with his athletes for multiple semesters or years.
I found it interesting that one other student made the same comparison to boot camp, but based on actual experience in boot camp, while my comment was only based on stereotypes seen in film and television.