How well do we know our learners?

The story of Fatima is a wake up call for all teachers and people who deal with children.

A girl by name Fatima went to school in the neighbouring village where she wasn't known well.

For three weeks, she came to school late and every time the teacher punished her.

On the fourth week, Fatima didn't attend school at all and many thought she had *GIVEN UP* on school due to the everyday punishment.

However, Fatima reported again on fifth week and this time she came earlier than everybody.

When the teacher came to class, Fatima was punished for not attending school the previous week but the teacher was also kind enough to commend her for coming early that day, stating that the punishments had finally yielded some results.

Just then, Fatima asked if she could say something and the teacher gave her permission.

*She started :*

_"I've been raised up by a single mother without a brother or a sister. Five weeks ago, my mother fell ill and was hospitalized. The three weeks I came late, I had to prepare something for her every morning and pass by the hospital to deliver the same. Unfortunately, mother passed away last week and that's the reason I didn't come to school. We buried her last Friday. Today I came early since I didn't have to prepare anything or even pass by the hospital. And now that she is gone, I will always be here early''_

As she sat down, no one in the whole class was able to hold their tears, the teacher was not spared either.

How well do we know our learners.  We should go beyond knowing the names of our learners. We should know their names, their parents, their local communities, their hobbies, dreams, fears,  likes and dislikes, etc.

We should go beyond the ordinary. Ordinary teachers just know their learners' name and class performance.

We all have issues that we have to deal with.  So do the children we teach.
That is why the rule of natural justice demands that we give fair hearing.  But teachers should apart from giving fair hearing, apply judgements based on compassion.


So next time your learner, misbehave, just don't start rebuking him or her, but apply compassion.


By Mohammed Aminu Mohammed
(Coach, Trainer, Teacher,  Educationist, School Administrator).
You can reach him via Call or Whatsapp: 233244299706.

https://fb.com/AminuWritesAW