Discuss The Basement of Madame Davis

[slipshod sailor]

The Frog.

Name: Jean-Marc Lautrec

Teacher: French

Powers: He is gifted with eyes in the back of his head. Unfortunately, as a child, these eyes were always covered with his hair to discourage attention and are thus slightly near-sighted and require glasses at all times. His front eyes need glasses only for reading, so when he is examining his textbooks or grading tests, he makes for an odd sight indeed. His haircut , shorn in front of his back eyes, does not improve this strange look.

History: Jean-Marc lived in France for two years before his family immigrated to America in hopes of a better future, better opportunities, better education for their children, better etc etc. Growing up, his father taught him French whilst his mother instructed him in English?he was to speak French only to his parents and English only when talking to his three siblings. Thus, he became fluent in both languages simultaneously. His eyes were present since his birth, overlooked when he was born as strange moles and then covered by his hair. Not wanting to worry his parents, Jean-Marc kept his eyes secret until a fateful trip to the barber?s at the age of ten. His parents, wanting their son to have the best education possible and not cause troubles at his ?normal? school, enrolled him in Madam Davis? Home for Gifted Children at the age of twelve. He resented this move quite a bit, having been very comfortable with his current school and friends. Once at Madam Davis?, Jean-Paul felt very out of place, not understanding why he was there as his power was not all that impressive nor a handicap to him like so many of the other students?. His main comfort were the letters that he constantly sent (in both English and French) to his family and old school friends. Eventually, he becomes used to the strange new school and manages to make a few very good friends with whom he can talk to without waiting a week for a reply.

Personality: Very sharp and attentive (very little escapes his eyes or his mind), Jean-Paul is devoted to his studies, just as his parents taught him, and expects the same of his students. He is a very literal person (and will take things as such) and prefers to be tactfully frank as opposed to getting his point across using sarcasm or evasive wit. He also despises gross exaggerations and understatements.

He is very precise and direct in his teaching, moving at a relatively quick pace but going over everything carefully enough to accommodate the slower learners. Jean-Paul?s teaching style imitates that of his mother and father, who were not teachers, but whom he considers as the best role models that he has ever had. He offers help after class and during lunch breaks, but few take him up on the offer.