As a poor kid, he never questioned why teacher gave him extra work. Years later, he finally understood
'While I may lack formal education and a degree, I present myself and can articulate at a much higher level than just a high school graduate.'
A student (u/cesador) who grew up poor never understood why their Latin teacher always gave them more homework than others. It bothered them initially, but the teacher offered prompt help with "material" on "various historical philosophers." While their tactic didn't make sense then, now, as a grown-up, the student reflects on how that teacher's attitude changed their life.
Their Latin and ancient Greek teacher was a total nerd; he wore his centurion spirit Halloween-type costume with a rubber sword with pride. "He’d wear that and do these marching chants to teach us declensions," the student wrote. Meanwhile, the student, raised by a single mom, was struggling with poverty, but it was their teacher who recognized something in them that the world never acknowledged. The nerdy teacher could identify the child's potential and wanted them to grow in life, so once, after class, he pulled his student aside and said something that left a lasting impact on the author. "He could see I was very intelligent [and that] I should always absorb as much as I can," they explained.
Alongside giving them more homework, the teacher would also quiz the author spontaneously to ascertain if they had really read the study materials. It was only decades later that the student realized he was trying to give them a leg up, make them as well-read and cultured as their peers who were going on to higher education. "That was never in the cards for me. As an adult, it has really helped me climb higher up the ladder than I probably should have," the author said. They confessed that they might lack a degree, but they can present themselves as a high school graduate. "Sadly, he got sick a few years ago and passed. I think he may have only been 60, but he cared a lot for students, and I always wondered how many others he helped lift up," they concluded.
A good teacher always recognizes their students' potential before anyone else, which explains how the "Pygmalion effect" works. It describes a situation where high expectations from someone improve the individual's behavior and yield better outcomes in a particular area. The Pygmalion effect suggests that people perform better when more is expected out of them, according to The Decision Lab. When someone we look up to, a teacher or a boss, tells us that they think we can do much better, we are motivated to work harder and maintain that reputation. In this story, the teacher saw beyond the student's limitations and made them believe that they could outlive their present situation and build a good future. According to an issue brief released by ACT, 42% percent of students felt that the pandemic had a positive effect on how much they appreciated their education, while 52% noted having higher respect for their teachers.
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