Believe it or not, the way into a teacher's heart is not through flattery, but a self concious effort to recognise one's own flaws and work on them.
As a teacher, I cannot help but smile when realization and understanding dawns upon the faces of my students. The sheepish smiles and the subsequent determination not the make the same mistake again always makes my day.
Then again, it would not be harmful to write a good story about an inspiring teacher. Good stories are not designed to flatter nor do they have inconsequential examples, but are stories that cause the marking teacher to pause and reflect (even for a short 2 seconds during her busy marking).
In addition, as a plea to all students, try not to begin your sentences with 'And' or 'But' and never 'Because', not matter what you read on the Internet.
P.S. This was obviously done after marking Common Test scripts.
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Why so different?
My students noted and subsequently asked, "Teacher, how come only NT students must go listen to police talk?"
The school had invited the police to give a talk on the dangers of drug abuse, and only the NT students were singled out to attend the talk.
My spirit sank as I struggled to give my students an answer. I could not explain to them that when they were slotted into the different streams, they were not only categorised simply by their academic ability but were also accorded labels on their behaviour and tendencies.
I wanted to tell them that though many of them came from broken families, had non existent guardians, and lived in poorer circumstances (as compared to the majority), it did not mean that they would most likely be people who commit crimes or took drugs. It also did not mean that all their friends were deviant criminals.
Yet, despite my will to believe in them, I knew that there are sociological links. At times like this, I feel really helpless.
Postscript: Great, when the students were asked if they knew of any friends or family members who had taken drugs before, hands were raised all across the auditorium. So thankful for the police officer who told them that drug users come from all walks of life, and are of all ages.
The school had invited the police to give a talk on the dangers of drug abuse, and only the NT students were singled out to attend the talk.
My spirit sank as I struggled to give my students an answer. I could not explain to them that when they were slotted into the different streams, they were not only categorised simply by their academic ability but were also accorded labels on their behaviour and tendencies.
I wanted to tell them that though many of them came from broken families, had non existent guardians, and lived in poorer circumstances (as compared to the majority), it did not mean that they would most likely be people who commit crimes or took drugs. It also did not mean that all their friends were deviant criminals.
Yet, despite my will to believe in them, I knew that there are sociological links. At times like this, I feel really helpless.
Postscript: Great, when the students were asked if they knew of any friends or family members who had taken drugs before, hands were raised all across the auditorium. So thankful for the police officer who told them that drug users come from all walks of life, and are of all ages.
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