In episode seven (which I believe is the final installment in this series), Tony Danza refers to himself as “just some shmo who thinks he’s a teacher.” In my view, this is an accurate description of Tony Danza as we have seen him throughout this reality TV series.
Episode seven focuses on Tony’s inability to stand firm behind deadlines. He told his students that he would not accept late homework, and now the students don’t do their homework. He assigns an essay, and many students do not pass it in. He responds to this situation by being loosey-goosey with extensions for a little while (right up until when his grades are due). Once again, Tony has trouble being an authority figure and incorporating authority into his teaching.
But what was perhaps most difficult for Tony in this episode was hearing from his principal that he is not connecting effectively with all of his students, and that some students report feeling invisible in his classroom. All along, Tony has seen the value of caring for his students – perhaps going too far in that direction by becoming more of a friend than a teacher. But he doesn’t seem to treat his students equally. In particular, he tends to connect more closely with students who remind him of himself – often boys who tend to get into trouble. But all of Tony’s students need him. They all want a relationship with him. They all want him to care about them.
At the end of the episode, Tony says, “I love this job.” He may love it, but he has a long, long way to go if he wants to become an effective teacher.
