ABSTRACT
Teaching is a complex enterprise, and teachers assume many different roles in their daily work. This response to Welch’s chapter “Fun Home: Representations of a Fractured Father” considers how metaphors can be used to explore the complexities of teaching, specifically the metaphor of teacher as coach. Like athletic coaches, in order to be effective, teachers must be knowledgeable, must know how to motivate their students, should have strong communication skills and demonstrate leadership in their classrooms, schools and communities. Bruce Bechdel, the teacher portrayed in Fun Home, has none of these characteristics and is a poor example of an effective teacher.
