The History Boys 

Compare two different teachers from 'The History Boys' and explore the way they are presented in the text by Bennett using quotations and references to linguistic techniques.

The History Boys was written by Alan Bennett and is set in a grammar school in the North of England in the 1980's where its centers around eight sixth form boys who are all applying for oxford. They  have three teacher and a head teacher to prepare them in a term for the exam to get into oxford.

The two teachers Hector and Irwin both teach so differently. Bennett presents Hector as a person who is liberated and doesn't follow authority when teaching however Irwin is shown as someone who is young and tends to just teach facts as well as trying to prove something to the boys.
When we first meet Irwin he is in a wheelchair in his forties, showing a person who knows how to manipulate people and doesn't show his true self, this foreshadows what happens later on. The first encounter with Hector is when he is on his motorbike where he is undressed item by item by the eight boys, showing how he is a open book to the boys yet the boys but the items back on him, relating to how he touches the boys as if they have seen too much and would like to keep boundaries.

Bennett represents Herbert as someone who is fun and has a very free classroom, his relationship with the boys is mostly positive. He uses a linguistic technique to show hes more of a friend than teacher who guides them through life this is done by Herbert speaking french to the boys. Because he says "..token of my trust" to the boys and uses a ironic tone to explain why he hits them which also shows their relationship which is very jokey and isn't very professional. Where as Irwin's style of teaching shows hes very young and there isn't a 'good' relationship between him and his student mainly because there is no respect this is shown by saying "Don't take the piss. There isn't time" by saying the word piss this shows his age and how young, unprepared he is.

Irwin's teaching is aimed at just getting the boys into Oxford, learning the facts and doing well in the exam. This is shown by him questioning Herbert's teaching and the boys knowledge "How come you know this all by heart? (baffled, shouts) Not that it answers the question" He only wishes to know the information that answers the exam questions which will enable them to pass. This also shows how his teaching classes with Hectors and how the relationship is completely different.

Herbert's view of the education system is shown through out, he believes his lessons help guide the boys life and make them better people not to just learn information just to pass exams. He admits to his fault and his teaching " If, heaven for fend, I was ever entrusted with the timetable, I would call these lessons a waste of time" Herbert says what many are thinking such as Irwin and this also shows how their teaching are completely different.