The Think-outside-the-Box-Student(A Story)
...and in that moment, it occurred to me that I had reached hearts. I smiled away feeling fulfilled.
My students know me as one teacher whom they cannot predict. I get to them each time armed to my teeth on the subject area. As a tradition, I also take out a few moments to stimulate and encourage them to give each subject their best shot. However, when one spreads bread crumbs on the river, he can hardly tell how far each can travel. That was the gentle reminder Chidalu gave me that beautiful Thursday morning.
I had walked into JSS1 Balsam to teach Literature-in-English in my usual brisk but ladylike manner. An echo of happy and enthusiastic combination of voices welcomed me in their usual "new fowl" manner😅(' New fowl' is an expression for newly admitted students who are yet to fully understand a school system but aren't completely ignorant of its modus operandi). I was happy to see the light and anticipation in their eyes. I had them settle down and ran my lesson as effeciently as I prepared them. I was finally glad to have reached the end of the lesson. As usual, I asked for questions, suggestions and input from the students. The interactions were worthwhile and refreshing. But one student wasn't with us mentally, he had gone far in a different thought.
As I was about to conclude the class, a boy from behind the class whom I noticed had been paying good attention throughout the class session raised his hand. I noticed him as well as the peace and confidence that sat on his face like identical twins. Eager to know what he may have to say, I permitted him to speak and there came something I have been thinking about for over a year now. Chidalu calmly told me that the Disney animation Cinderella that I used in one of my illustrations on the topic "Prose Fiction" is flawed. I listened harder. He continued, "I think the prince who later married Cinderella has smelly armpits and feet". I was taken aback but by curiosity. "How is that, dear Chidalu?", I asked with a lot of thoughts running through my mind all at the same time.
"Mrs. Itoro", he continued, "the prince never had a bath throughout the film". My eyes shinning even brighter now and my class so quiet that you could hear a pin drop, I questioned more, "how did you know?" He simply replied, "He neither changed his clothes nor his shoes till the film ended." Just after the last syllable of his response left his lips,four students echoed "Wow!" in unison. "I haven't given that a thought before, Chidalu", I said. "Well, you've always told us to think outside the box when studying Literature", he calmly replied.
I only found myself wondering but happy I am touching lives by just word of mouth.
What do you think? Is he right with that assertion? Let's hear your thoughts 🤝
