Comment on the attitude shown by Taplow towards Crocker-Harris.

There are different teachers that come across in a student's life and vice versa. A teacher is a role model for a student. What ever may be, a student always looks up to her/his teacher for an example. Her/his character, behaviour, habits, a student observes them all. A student looks up to a teacher for help and support and guidance. Thus, it becomes a responsibility of a teacher to be quintessential. A teacher is both a parent and a friend of a student.

However, there are teachers that have rigid ideals and are believe in strict discipline. They are fastidious and no nonsense. Students are intimidated by them. For them studies are no joke. They expect a student to be an epitome of behaviour and etiquette. Crocker-Harris was such a teacher, of whom students respect out of obligation. Crocker- Harris was a teacher Taplow would never disobey. Taplow was unhappy for Crocker would never compromise on principals and rules. Students had to wait for their form results to be announced by the headmaster until the last day of term. And he was unhappy about it that he had to wait to know his fate until so long and only then will he know if he will be able to know if he could specialise, if he is not removed.

There is a queerness in the attitude of Taplow towards Crocker-Harris. Although he does not appreciate the teachermcuh, he tells Frank, “The funny thing is that in spite of everything, I do like him. I can not help it. And sometimes I think he sees it and that seems to shrivel him up even more.” It is funny relation between the student and the teacher. Taplow is afraid of Crocker-Harris and pity him as well, for he is a teacher who can not be friend to his students and cracks poor jokes that are hard to understand and Taplow laughs at them just to not let Harris feel bad.