Short story: The teacher who still taught even just one student well
By emptychair
@innertalks (23746)
Australia
February 20, 2023 11:08pm CST
The school teacher was having trouble getting his lesson across to some of his less talented students, so he asked them to stay back after school, so as that he could give them some special attention, and to help them to overcome their misunderstandings.
There were several such students, but only one turned up for the after-hours class.
The teacher was nonplussed by this, as he was giving of his time as an extra to these students, but never-the-less, he decided to give of his best for this one student that did turn up.
The student did well, with the extra understanding, now given to him by the teacher, and he never forgot this extra class that the teacher had given to him, and it spurred him on to become a great teacher himself, in time too.
We become who we are, often because of a teacher like this, taking the extra time to teach us to tie our own bootstraps.
Nobody is ever really self-taught, as tying one’s bootstraps is not a natural thing, and needs to be taught, so that we do not tie them up in untieable knots.
A teacher needs to say things in different ways, so that different people can understand what he is trying to say. This helps some students, as here, in this story, to learn what they were not learning before.
Photo Credit: The photo used in this article was sourced from the free media site, pixabay.com
A good teacher produces a good student. A great teacher produces another great teacher.
4 people like this
4 responses
@Beestring (15372)
• Hong Kong
21 Feb 23
This is an inspiring story. Differentiated teaching is a good approach.
3 people like this
@innertalks (23746)
• Australia
21 Feb 23
Yes, every student is different, and needs to be taught in a way that best enhances their own individualised learning.
You could call it tailored teaching.
The curriculum remains the same, but the methods used to teach it vary, according to the needs of each particular individual student.
@ifa225 (14468)
• Indonesia
21 Feb 23
@innertalks every little knowledge is a matter, your friends muat be grateful to have a friend like you
2 people like this
@innertalks (23746)
• Australia
22 Feb 23
@ifa225 Well, everybody can be grateful if they have a good friend in their lives, and I am too.
@innertalks (23746)
• Australia
21 Feb 23
Thanks. I would have liked to be a teacher too, but I am too old to be one now. The closest I got was teaching the game of chess to some friends.
@innertalks (23746)
• Australia
21 Feb 23
Yes, he could have just cancelled his after-hours class, saying that not enough students turned up to make it worthwhile for him to teach.
He was a good teacher.
@Shiva49 (28402)
• Singapore
21 Feb 23
I have found those who are brilliant do not know the difficulties of those not so well-endowed.
When the teacher himself had gone through the grind, he will have more understanding and empathy for slow learners.
I cannot forget a few teachers who were so committed and inspiring.
Teaching is a noble profession and it should have been my first choice. However, as it was not a well-paying profession, a few dissuaded me from going for that. Those were the days when people proffered advice at the drop of a hat!
1 person likes this
@innertalks (23746)
• Australia
22 Feb 23
Teaching outside of school is possible too, and we can be mentors, and teachers, to others in our lives too. Most parents will teach their own children in something too, like in how to play a game, for example.
It has been well said that everybody that we meet can be our teacher, if we are so open to learning something from them.
@innertalks (23746)
• Australia
22 Feb 23
@Shiva49 I wonder how you would have gone with me as your son, as I never had a passion for anything, but more just took life as it came to me, and went through doors that opened for me, whether I cared for that area of employ, or not.
Now, looking back, I do regret not ever having one area of passion in my life, to which I might have fully applied myself to, and followed.
@Shiva49 (28402)
• Singapore
22 Feb 23
@innertalks That is true, we can learn all the time provided we have an open mind.
And a few, with their in-our-face attitude, not to be like them too!
I set an example for my son to follow his passion whatever that may be.
I was constrained when young as I had to earn my keep asap.
There are always those who are worth emulating.
1 person likes this
