Daffodil International University
Faculty of Humanities and Social Science => English => Topic started by: Shampa Iftakhar on June 03, 2014, 02:12:25 PM
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Once there was a man named Nathan. He wanted very much to be a teacher. So he went to seek the advice of the wisest, most highly respected counselor in the land.
"Wise counselor," Nathan began, "it has always been my dream to be a teacher. I want to stimulate the minds of the young people of our land. I want to lead them down the road of knowledge. Please tell me the secret of becoming a teacher."
"Your goal is a commendable one, Nathan. However, it is also a very difficult one to achieve. First you must overcome three major obstacles."
"I am ready to meet the challenge," answered Nathan bravely.
"First you must swim the Sea of Children," directed the knowing counselor.
Nathan started off to swim the Sea of Children. First he had to learn their 38 names. He had to send the line cutters to the end of the line. He made the paper throwers stay after school to clean the room.
He commanded the name callers, pushers, and punchers to apologize to their victims. He gave M&M's to those who finished assignments and stars to those who were sitting in their seats quietly. Nathan checked passes to see how many children were in the bathroom. And he tracked down students who were gone longer than was necessary. He arranged the desks in alphabetical order, then boy-girl, boy-girl, and finally into small groups of four. He lined his children up for physical education and music and library and lunch. Then he stifled a cry when the secretary came into the room with number 39. Tired and shaken but still undefeated, Nathan returned to the counselor for his second task.
"You are a very determined lad," said the advisor. "However, now you must climb the Mountain of Paperwork."
Nathan set out at once. He wrote objectives and drew up lesson plans.
He made out report cards and graded papers. He filled out accident reports, attendance reports and withdrawal reports. He completed inventories, evaluations, surveys, and request forms. Finally, he made dittos and more dittos. He ran them off until he was purple in the face. But the courageous boy's resolve never dwindled. He went to the wise counselor for his third task.
"You are indeed very strong, Nathan. But this third task will take all the courage you can muster. You must now cross the country of Duties and Committees."
At first Nathan was hesitant. But his convictions remained steadfast. He began his long journey across the country of Duties and Committees.
Nathan took lunch duty, bus duty, and recess duty. He was on the social committee, patrol committee, and the faculty advisory committee. He was the adult supervisor of the student government and ran the United Fund and Easter Seal drives. He went to PTA meetings, NRA meetings, SST meetings, School Site meetings, and in-service workshops. He organized bicentennial programs, talent shows, and book drives. Finally, he was elected the building representative of the union. At last Nathan reached the outskirts of Duties and Committees.
Exhausted but happy, he returned to the knowledgeable counselor.
"I swam the Sea of Children. I climbed the Mountain of Paperwork. I crossed the country of Duties and Committees," Nathan proclaimed. "Am I not worthy of the title of Teacher?"
"Why, Nathan," began the counselor, "you have been a teacher all along."
Nathan protested, "But I have not stimulated any minds. I have not guided anyone down the road to knowledge, I have not had any time to teach"
"Oh, you say you want to TEACH! I thought you said you wanted to be a teacher. That is a completely different story!!
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Is the gap between 'teacher' and 'teaching' really so unbridgeable? I enjoyed reading the story. A teacher needs some qualities, as mentioned in the story. But teaching probably needs more.
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Sir:
Thank you for reply.
From my point of view teaching is really demanding and challenging. Whether the gap is unbridgeable or not depends on the outlook that one adopts. I believe that some teachers can't teach. They are just teachers by profession.
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Teaching is always something to start with “a beginner’s mind” (Suzuki 1970), that is to start with an open mind as a fresher always.
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Dear Madam:
Beginners mind! Right.But they are not empty.
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really wonderful reading such inspiring stories.Its very obvious to meet the challenges while having 'teaching' as career.
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The story is wonderful, even the replies..... learning a lot by reading these.... :)
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Thank you Nushat and Sadia. This is one of my best read stories. When I read it for the first time, I felt really charmed. I felt what actually teaching profession demands and what is teaching! :)
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Oh! The twist at the end! Loved it!
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I am learning from the story n all the replies
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Beginner's mind can never be empty dear Shampa Iftekhar madam! :)
Afroza Akhter Tina
Senior Lecturer
Department of English, DIU
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Yes, Tina Madam. :)
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Excellent. Truly, many people can be teachers, but all of them can not teach.
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We will get nothing in life without challenge let alone any profession.