Court Jesters sang, dance, did imitations, and often recited wordplays. Medieval jesters provided humor during tense situations. Jesters of Ancient China provided wisdom and humor when the King became angry. Kings across history have often relied on jesters to bring about humor in order to help think more clearly in situations and to reduce the pressures of life. Understanding that history of jesters helps educators understand the link more clearly between a productive learning environment and the use of humor.
Teaching is without question one of the most challenging professions.
Students come to us with all sorts of emotional problems and environmental issues. One often wonders how to find laughter and humor in an overcrowded classroom with discipline problems at every turn. When educators step out of that rigid box that allows no humor, we will find a class filled with students that are ready to embark on any aspect of learning with no barriers. Use upbeat music as students are walking in the class or engaging in serious thinking time. Often I will pose a higher order-thinking question to my students, only to be dismayed by the blank stares that it imposes.