Teachers often can fall into the trap of teaching content, paying no attention to children. Many of us have the attitude that "we will put the information out there, and if they don't get it, they are to blame."
Several years ago, I had a student named Jeremy in 12th-grade English, in which British literature was taught. I struggled to find ways to make the content interesting. Jeremy didn't care. Though Jeremy was classified as gifted, he slept in class every day. I began to get really frustrated. I even began to dislike him.
High school teachers sometimes develop a hands-off attitude. I thought, "OK, Jeremy, if you want to fail my class, fine. I've tried everything. " As time went on, I ignored Jeremy. I didn't ask him questions, or even make eye contact with him.
By accident, I found that Jeremy was capable of much more. One day, Went to the broadcasting classroom to edit a video. On this day, several students were working on an assignment. Then I heard a voice I recognized. I looked up and saw Jeremy was teaching his classmates energetically how to film. My first thought was that Jeremy must have a twin! Suddenly he realized I was sitting in the corner.
Our eyes met. "Mrs. Duff?" he asked with surprise. "You know how to edit video?"
"Yes. I had no idea you were a videographer!" At this, he smiled with pride and explained the project his group was working on. It was clear he had earned his classmates' respect. And it was suddenly clear to me that I had not really made an effort to know Jeremy at all.
What happened next was amazing. In class, Jeremy stayed awake and completed his work. He passed my class with a B.
What happened? When Jeremy encountered me outside English class, it changed his perspective of me. He realized I wasn't just some odd lady trying to force him to learn British poetry. Equally important, my perspective about him changed. He wasn't just the kid who slept in my class.
I'm not proud that I didn't make a better effort to know Jeremy before the encounter in the broadcast room. I told myself I had tried everything, but I had not stepped outside of my little English world at all.
