Give them roots and wings

Today is the last class which Samuel will be taking at Berries.  真是有点儿不舍得。One of the reasons we stopped is because Samuel does not really like his current class. At first it was the teacher he did not like, later it was another student.  Whatever it is, it has been increasingly difficult coaxing him to go to class.

It is sad because actually he has a favourite teacher (who taught him last year) whose class is unfortunately fully booked.  I have resorted to letting him skip his own class, and putting him into her class as “replacement classes”.   He happily goes for her class, no matter how tired and sleepy he might be.

Thank you 曹老师. Perhaps like you said, Samuel and you have 眼缘
Whatever it is, thank you for teaching and caring for him.

This shows how much difference a teacher can make.Today when I told him that this will be his last class, he went – “Huh? Why?” – with a tinge of shock and sadness in it.  I was surprised. He seemed sad to have to say good bye to her.  I think he really likes her, and would continue even though Berries is difficult for him.

It is difficult to find excellent teachers who can really turn your child around.  Elkan and Elias’ English Creative writing (tuition) teacher is one of them.  I started Elkan with her first, for about six months.  Recently, I begged her to take Elias in too.  She agreed.  In my “brief” to her, I told her that Elias is very mischievous.

After about three lessons, I asked Elias whether he has been behaving well in her class.  To my surprise, he said that he is very quiet in her class.  That is so uncharacteristic of Elias, so I asked him why.  What he told me was such a revelation.  He said :”She is so funny that I cannot (afford to) be mischievous.  If I am, I might miss out the fun”.

He further analysed the school situation for me.  He said that he is not mischievous in XXX’s class because she tells interesting stories and is quite nice.  He is also not mischievous in XXX’s class because she can be funny and is VERY fierce.  He is mischievous in XXX’s class because it is so boring, and lastly, he hates XXX’s class because she is VERY strict (and not funny I suppose…).

Elias wrote this to his P1 teacher, when he was in P2. Over the years, I would meet her in the school. She would ask after him and say he was very cute. I believe that what Elias wrote about her is true. She cared for him, and he felt it and knew it.

Anyway, I sent an sms message to his English creative writing (tuition) teacher because I thought she would like to hear what Elias said about her class.  Her reply was sweet.  She said it warmed her heart, that Elias is attentive and polite, and that she will certainly enjoy teaching him.

I do not expect every teacher to be like that.  It is a pity, but everyone is made differently.  I am sure there are many dedicated teachers who work very hard, but perhaps just do not have that “magic”.

I am just happy that my children had the experience of being taught by teachers who inspired them to give of their best.

“The families sent you their children, their most precious resource, and you are responsible for sending them back better.  They have to come through their experience with you a changed person.  If the only change was that they could master a test, you’ve failed the whole child”.

That is such a lovely statement.  However I don’t think excellent teachers set out to teach children values (which makes it all the more remarkable, because it means that it is sincere and real and it comes from the inside out).  They endeavor to teach their students the skills which they were supposed to teach, be it English, Chinese, Maths or Science.  But I believe that their characters and personalities are so attractive, that the students are shaped simply by listening to and watching them.

I appreciate these teachers not just for what they did to help my child learn, either about the subject or about life.

“I will tell you, in words you can hear and understand, the life lessons you need to know” – Quoted from “Lists to live by for every caring family” –

I appreciate these teachers because they helped me to understand my children and showed me the level of excellence which they are capable of.  They had taken my most precious resource and showed me how much more valuable they actually are and can be.

That, to me, is the fulfilled calling of a teacher.