A Teacher's Influence
If there is one thing that I have learned over many years of teaching, it is that our students learn by example.
- They learn not only the lessons that we try to teach them but also lessons that, by their very nature, are perhaps more subtle and implied.
- These are the lessons that children often learn by osmosis or example.
I also know that the lessons learned and the impressions made when a child is young last a lifetime.
- This is one of the most significant responsibilities that we teachers and parents have as adults.
- Young minds process information quite differently than adult minds do.
- We have to be aware of that constantly. That doesn't mean that we have to dumb down information and concepts.
- It just means that we can assume nothing when it comes to how a child's mind will process the information it receives.
The following is pure fiction, of course, but it makes one wonder how things might have turned out if some of these teachers had tried a different approach. Perhaps if they had framed their arguments differently or taken the time to ensure that their students understood what was taught, there might have been different results.
40 a.d.
Setting: High on one of the seven hills of Rome
Aurelius Flagellus Horribilis looked up from his table. The three discipuli in his charge were supposed to be working on their times tables.
