To Sir With Love - E. R. Braithwaite

Eustace Edward Ricardo Braithwaite (1912 to 2016), known as E. R. Braithwaite, was a Guyanese-born British-American novelist, writer, teacher and diplomat, best known for his stories of social conditions and racial discrimination against black people. He was the author of one of the famous 1959 autobiographical novels, ‘To Sir, with Love’.

He also wrote ‘A Kind of Homecoming’, about his tour of Africa, ‘A Choice of Straws’, a novel set in London, and ‘Reluctant Neighbors’, a memoir and treatise about racism. Braithwaite’s numerous writings primarily deal with the difficulties of being an educated black man, a black social worker, a black teacher, and simply a human being who found himself in a set of inhumane circumstances.

'To Sir, with Love’ is an autobiographical novel. The narrator is an engineer, but to make both ends meet, he accepts the job of a teacher in a rough London East End school. The school is full of troublemaker students who were rejected from other schools for their behaviour. At the beginning, the narrator is ridiculed and bullied by the students, but later his calm demeanor and desire to see them succeed gradually earn him their respect.

Plot -

Ricky Braithwaite is an engineer from British Guiana who has worked in an oil refinery in Aruba. Coming to Britain just before the outbreak of World War II, he joins the RAF and is assigned to aircrew. Demobbed in 1945, he is unable to find work despite his qualifications and experience due to racism. After discussing his situation with a stranger, he applies for a teaching position and is assigned to Greenslade School, a secondary school in London's East End.

Most of the pupils in his class are unmotivated to learn, and are only semi-literate and semi-articulate. He persists despite their unresponsiveness to his approach. Students attempt to discourage and demoralise him by disruptive noises, constant use of the adjective "bleeding" in the classroom and, finally, the burning of a used sanitary towel in the fireplace. This last causes Braithwaite to lose his temper and reprimand all the girls.

Braithwaite decides to try a new approach, and sets some ground rules. The students will be leaving school soon and will enter adult society, so he will treat them as adults and allow them to decide what topics they wish to study. In return, he demands their respect as their teacher. This novel approach is initially rejected, but within a few weeks the class is largely won over. He suggests out-of-school activities including visits to museums, which the students have never experienced before. A young teacher, Gillian Blanchard, volunteers to assist him on these trips. Some of the girls start to speculate whether a personal relationship is budding between Braithwaite and Gillian. The trip is a success and more are approved by the initially sceptical headmaster.

The teachers and the Student Council openly discuss all matters affecting the school including curricula. The general feeling is that Braithwaite's approach is working, although some teachers advocate a tougher approach.

Braithwaite and Gillian fall deeply in love and discuss marriage. Her parents are openly disapproving of a mixed-race marriage, but realise that the couple are serious and intelligent and must be trusted to make the right decision.

Theme of the Novel -

       Students-teacher relationship, prejudice and racism are the major themes of the novel.

 E. R. Braithwaite gets a job of a teacher in a rather rough and notorious school. He finds that the students belong to a background that is not suitable for learning and their overall development and progress. He notices that the students are in no mood to change their attitude and behaviour. Braithwaite with his novel and creative ideas, innovative techniques and understanding the students’ psychology, ultimately wins their hearts in no time. Though he was bullied, harassed, mentally and physically tortured many times, he didn’t lose his patience and continued implementing his novel ideas and techniques that helped him to bring a significant change in his students’ lives. The racism prevalent in Great Britain during the mid-1940s, the time period during which ‘To Sir, with Love’ takes place, is of primary significance in the novel. The narrator cites repeated incidents in which he experiences the racism of white Britons, including encounters on the bus, at job interviews, at Greenslade school, when searching for housing, at a restaurant with his girl friend and so on.

Synopsis of the Extract - 

In this extract, Braithwaite recounts the half-yearly report of the Students’ Council, in which the students of the school report to the faculty and other students on what they have been studying thus far. Braithwaite’s class representatives speak knowledgeably about their coursework and place a considerable amount of emphasis on how much they have learnt about different people, cultures, customs, and the importance of international and interracial cooperation.Miss Joseph and Denham, both students of Braithwaite’s class, preside over the meeting. At the outset, Mr. Florian, the headmaster, addresses the meeting with a lengthy, but well-received presentation. One after another, each class gives a brief report of their progress, through their chosen representatives, on what they have been studying in each subject so far. A panel of teachers is chosen for each class to answer any questions regarding the report submitted by the class. The lowest class begins first, and it is obvious that as the students progress through the ranks there is ‘a marked development in their ability to express themselves’. Mr. Braithwaite’s class, being the oldest, was the last to present their report.Miss Joseph begins the highest class’s proceedings by clarifying that the common theme underlying all their studies this term is the interdependency of mankind. Potter speaks in the field of math, focusing on how greater understanding in the world is fostered by the use of common weights and measures. Miss Pegg and Jackson speak on geography, and Miss Dare and Fernman discuss the subject of physiology, with Fernman stealing the show by exhibiting a model of a human skeleton and stressing the class conclusion that “basically all people were the same.” Miss Dodd reports on history, and Miss Joseph on domestic science. Denham creates a stir by speaking on the required subject of P.T. and games, complaining that the class ‘was ill-conceived and pointless.’Mr. Weston, Mrs. Dale-Evans, and Miss Phillips are chosen at random to answer students’ questions arising from the senior presentations. When Denham pursues his inquiry on the necessity of requiring all students to take P.T., Mr. Weston responds quite ridiculously, trying to bluster his way out of the subject, and offering no coherent argument. Unexpectedly, the quiet and hesitant Miss Phillips steps in and gives a sturdy defense of the practice, and Denham, knowing that he has been outwitted, has no choice but to respectfully cease his heated protest. Braithwaite is immensely satisfied with the progress of the students of his class.

🟣 Give a brief character - sketch of the narrator Ricky Braithwaite

➡️  The narrator Ricky Braithwaite was an engineer but being a black man, he accepts the job of a teacher. He has experienced racial discrimination but he is the perfect example of a good teacher. He is a teacher in the Greenslade school in London. He engages the senior classes.  At the beginning, the students harass him slamming their desks, using foul language. The narrator interacts with them respectfully, quitely and patiently. His novel and creative ideas, innovative techniques and understanding of the student's psychology, ultimately wins their hearts.

🟣 Describe in brief the purpose of organising the half yearly report programme of student's council.

➡️   On November 15 th, the half yearly report programme of student's council was organized at Greenslade school, London. The main purpose of the meeting was to analyze and discuss the academic progress of the students. Each class would report through their representatives on the studies pursued  during the half year. When all the classes had completed their reports, a panel of teachers would be invited to answer questions from the student's reports. Throughout all the reports, the emphasis was on what they understood rather than what they were expected to learn.

🟣  Miss Philips effectively handled the questioning session. Give supporting details.

➡️  Miss Philips is earlier considered as 'frilly and brainless', but she was the best informed of the three teachers on the stage. She intervened  skilfully when the other two teachers were at a loss without embarrassing them. She spoke coolly,honestly and with authority. When Denham is blunt,critical and argumentative while discussing the P.T. exercises, Miss Philips interacts with Denham cleverly and sweetly. She maintenance a calm demeanor and establishes her authority as a teacher.

🟣  Explain in brief the theme of the extract from the novel 'To Sir,With Love '

➡️  The theme of the extract is the student teacher relationship and the proceedings of half yearly report of the student's Council. The extract shows the improvement in the conduct of students, the increase in their level of confidence and courtesy. It also shows the freedom and  candour in student teacher interaction in the school.

🟣  Give a brief character sketch of Denham.

➡️  Denham is business like and confident while allocating tasks for half yearly report programme. He is an important official for the function. He courteously addresses the girls as ' Miss'. While discussing P. T. and Games, he shocks the audience with his views. He is a trained boxer and does not want to do P. T. exercises which he feels are unnecessary for him. His tone is initially blunt, critical and argumentative. However when Miss Phillips gently replies to his arguments, he graciously and politely accepts his defeat.

🟣  Half yearly report of the student’s council highlights the conduct of Braithwaite’s’ class. Justify.

➡️  The conduct of student's of Braithwate's class was remarkable. They spoke knowledgeably about their course work and placed much emphasis on what they have learnt rather what they were taught.Each student came out as a surprise in their presentation. They presented their report in business -like manner. 

🟣 In the questioning session Denham was expressing few students’ feelings. Illustrate.

➡️ Denham addressed and criticized the pattern of PT and games in school. He stressed on the fact that the school space limitations and activities too are limited. He complained that PT was pointless and monotonous and said that it would be better to play a jolly good game than PT. All the boys give him a loud cheer, it was because he was expressing their feelings.

🟣  Write a short note on the event which took place on 15th November in Greenslade School.

➡️  15 th november was an important day for the students of Greenslade school as they had half yearly council report. Everyone was excited was looking forward this day. It was the day of the children as they arrange,present and control it. They allocate the duties among themselves in business like manner to make a neat programme. Each child arrived with proper and neat uniform.

🟣 The extract presents the narrator as a silent observer of the events. Explain.

➡️ As the event of Half yearly report was entirely arranged, presented and controlled by the students themselves, having no much roles of teachers to play. The narrator is the mute spectator of the entire happenings rather he is very surprised by his class' s conduct in managing the programme. 

🟣  ‘Analyzing the change in the students’ behaviour in the presentation’ is the central theme.

➡️ Each student acted business like and professional. Beginning with the short quick introduction of Miss joseph introducing all the presenters. Denham addressing every girl with ' Miss' before their names. Even the clever understanding of Miss Dare that her contribution had become anti - Climax, respite communicating her thoughts.

🟣 Denham and Miss Joseph played a key role in the presentation of the half yearly report of students’ council. Illustrate.

➡️ Miss Joseph was the one who started with introduction and short explanation of Student council's purpose and activities. She explained with great detail to all the students giving a broad understanding of the entire council meeting. On the other hand Denham was sharp, crisp confident and clear in expressing his points living a good mark to the juniors. At the same time, he was courteous to refer girls with Miss. This illustrates the fact that Denham and Miss Joseph played a key role.

 🟣  The senior students presented their class report more confidently than the junior students. Give reasons.

➡️ There were many at the age of 12 years who joined the school  previous summer, For which they were shy and frightened to stand before the school. Also with every increase in class students gain an ability to express themselves.Hence the seniors presented more confidently than the juniors. 

🟣 Fernman was innovative and dramatic in his presentation. Discuss in brief.

➡️ Fernman  presented his topic by bringing a skelton on the stage which was joint by a hanger.He indeed created a humorous and light environment and it grabbed everyone's attention. He pitched his point explain on a very serious note. This gathered him applause. Hence Fernman was innovative and dramatic in his presentation.

🟣  The stage has a great impact on the presentations of the students. Justify the  statement.

➡️ The stage helps their students to sharpen their speaking skills. It helps them to speak confidently in front of the audience.Students get an opportunity to express themselves.and develop critical thinking.They get overcome their fear and stage daring by presented themselves.