The Teacher


As soon as a shout of warning was issued, the students who had been loafing along the corridor and sitting on desks scrambled back to their seats. When the bulk of her body entered the classroom, the whole class rose and greeted her together.

Having put her basket on the teacher's desk, the teacher's eyes scanned over the students from under her lowered brows. When she saw that everything was in order, she asked the students to sit down. Then, she walked around the classroom, inspecting the cleanliness, a ritual I presumed she had never missed. Spotting a ball of crumpled paper near the only wastepaper basket of the classroom, she frowned and said, "Monitor, did the duty roasters sweep the floor during recess?"

The monitor rose and said, "Yes, teacher." Throwing him a glare, the teacher pointed at the spot where the crumpled paper was and said, "How do you explain the presence of the crumpled paper in the corner?"

A look of helplessness crossed the monitor's face. He took a deep breath and stammered, "Sorry, teacher. I've no idea."

"Who threw the rubbish?" The teacher raised her voice and everyone bent their heads. There was a gulf of silence between the two parties. I looked around uneasily.  I had entered the classroom several minutes before the teacher, and much to my consternation, I had not realized that there was a crumpled paper in that particular spot. It was my second day of teaching. And I had been assigned by the principal to observe how Madam Jennie, the teacher who was now looking sternly at the students, conducted her lesson. What would she think of me? I could feel the sharpness of her stare on me too. 

But then, what was the big deal about the crumpled paper? She could have asked any student to pick it up and the problem would be solved. Why did she keep dwelling on it? Was it an approach used as a prophylaxis against any latent delinquency?


Comments

suituapui said…
I was like her. Would not tolerate any bit of rubbish. With students, you give and inch, they'll take a yard...but no use shouting - it will all go in one ear and out the other ear.

Sometimes, while they were doing their work, or when an exam was going on and the room was not clean, I would take a broom and dust pan and clean up the place myself. When I see rubbish on the floor I would pick it up and throw it away - they will get the message that I would like the place sparkling clean.

When I saw a boy picking up trash and throwing it away properly, I would say, "Good, boy - you're a class above the rest." This sense of responsibility and the habit of keeping clean separates the boys from the men.
February 15, 2015 at 11:39 PM
sintaicharles said…
Thanks for your suggestions and advice. Many young teachers overlook that.
February 16, 2015 at 1:09 AM
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