It Was Fun At School
I think it will be good to write something light today. How about some aspects from my teaching days? I will tell you some general experiences of my long teaching carrier.
I really miss my school days as a teacher. At school, in my class, it was my natural habitat. I felt really at home with my pupils and the more I got to know them, and the more they got to know me, our good relation made the hours we spent together not only stress less but also very enjoyable. Not that I never had clashes with students…..of course I did, but here are some characters which are very difficult no matter how much I tried to please them and be their friend. But these, believe me were rare and isolated episodes which I will narrate some of them some day.
I can prove to myself and to you, that is, if you believe me, that this was the case by telling you some facts which happened and still happen regarding this.
The first fact is that when I was a teacher in the primary schools and had a class of my own all the year round, it often happened that one or more of the other teachers were absent from school. The reaction of those students whose teacher was absent was that it would be a special day because usually the head of school would send four or five of these children in each of the other classes. More often than not that day those students would do anything they liked as long as they behaved in the class they were sent. So one may say that as a general rule when the teacher was absent the pupils in his class felt better and were happier.
This was not the case when I sometimes had to miss school. My pupils would tell me that they felt miserable without me and it was better to have me with them although they knew that they had to work hard all day. Moreover, when some other teacher was absent, most of the children told the head that they wished to come to my class. Once the head told me, “What do you do to these children, all want to come to your class, do you give away sweets or anything?
I think it will be good to write something light today. How about some aspects from my teaching days? I will tell you some general experiences of my long teaching carrier.
I really miss my school days as a teacher. At school, in my class, it was my natural habitat. I felt really at home with my pupils and the more I got to know them, and the more they got to know me, our good relation made the hours we spent together not only stress less but also very enjoyable. Not that I never had clashes with students…..of course I did, but here are some characters which are very difficult no matter how much I tried to please them and be their friend. But these, believe me were rare and isolated episodes which I will narrate some of them some day.
I can prove to myself and to you, that is, if you believe me, that this was the case by telling you some facts which happened and still happen regarding this.
The first fact is that when I was a teacher in the primary schools and had a class of my own all the year round, it often happened that one or more of the other teachers were absent from school. The reaction of those students whose teacher was absent was that it would be a special day because usually the head of school would send four or five of these children in each of the other classes. More often than not that day those students would do anything they liked as long as they behaved in the class they were sent. So one may say that as a general rule when the teacher was absent the pupils in his class felt better and were happier.
This was not the case when I sometimes had to miss school. My pupils would tell me that they felt miserable without me and it was better to have me with them although they knew that they had to work hard all day. Moreover, when some other teacher was absent, most of the children told the head that they wished to come to my class. Once the head told me, “What do you do to these children, all want to come to your class, do you give away sweets or anything?
I started to teach at age twenty two. Occasionally I meet some ex student whom I used to teach ten, twenty, thirty or even more years before. They usually approached me and say to me,”Hi Sir! Do you remember me? You used to teach me.” Sometimes I would not remember them because children do change as they grow bigger but most often, after taking a good look at them, something clicks in my mind and I do remember either their name or surname or any episode that they were connected to when they were in my class. Their face would shine when they see that I do remember them. But the part that always gives me most satisfaction is that most of them tell me, “You know Sir, you were my favorite teacher from all the teachers I had all along my schooling days ….” And he or she would start talking about a particular event or a game of football or a Christmas play that they were involved with me. This I really appreciate.
Now, I humble have to admit that I really am a good teacher. See if you agree with me after you read these two paragraphs. At one time in my carrier, there was this teacher who was much more experienced than I was but his level of discipline was zero. We where quite good friend and because I lived not too far from where he lived, I used to go to and from school with him. During one particular year I was teaching Year 4 students and he was teaching Year 5 students. Our classrooms were next to each other. All my students in my class and myself could hear the every day chaos in his classroom. We could hear him roar as an angry lion and often he would beat his table with his pointer several times perhaps to try and frighten his wild pack. Once he visited my class because he wanted something and when he came in and saw everyone sitting calmly in his place and everything was so peaceful and orderly, he exclaimed, “You see my friend what a difference one year makes in the lives of these students. Yours are one year younger and are still obedient and controllable. In a year’s time they will be in that phase of their life when they will be all rebels such as those animals in my class, just listen to them.”
Of course I had a different interpretation, but I said nothing.
A whole year passed and this time I had a Year 6 class and I had all the students which last year were in my friend’s class. Besides, he was still teaching a Year 5 class and he inherited all the students whom I used to teach last year. Our classes were still next to each others’. But the situation was exactly the same as last year’s. His class was one complete rebus and my class was as orderly as ever. Once again on one occasion, my friend the lion tamer came to visit me. This time he had a different interpretation about the situation. He said, “Look how my old students have matured from last year, now they know what is good for them because this is the last year in the primary school.” But he must have soon realized that the pupils next door who were shouting like crazy were last year in my class all well behaved. You never guess what he told me. Unbelievable!! He said, “Listen to my class, last year they were so very diligent here in your class but now they think they are grown ups and they just won’t listen…………..it’s amazing how a year can change these modern youths. They fear nothing and no one!!”
What can one say or do in such a situation?????
Of course I had a different interpretation, but I said nothing.
A whole year passed and this time I had a Year 6 class and I had all the students which last year were in my friend’s class. Besides, he was still teaching a Year 5 class and he inherited all the students whom I used to teach last year. Our classes were still next to each others’. But the situation was exactly the same as last year’s. His class was one complete rebus and my class was as orderly as ever. Once again on one occasion, my friend the lion tamer came to visit me. This time he had a different interpretation about the situation. He said, “Look how my old students have matured from last year, now they know what is good for them because this is the last year in the primary school.” But he must have soon realized that the pupils next door who were shouting like crazy were last year in my class all well behaved. You never guess what he told me. Unbelievable!! He said, “Listen to my class, last year they were so very diligent here in your class but now they think they are grown ups and they just won’t listen…………..it’s amazing how a year can change these modern youths. They fear nothing and no one!!”
What can one say or do in such a situation?????
Now for some remarkable episodes we often had which made my life as a teacher so enjoyable.
But let me begin this story from the beginning. Quite some years ago there was a dispute between the teachers and the government and so the teacher’s union ordered its members to work to rule. The minister’s reaction was to lock out all those teachers who obeyed this directive and I was one of them. For several weeks we could not go to work and of course we did not get paid for those days. But at long last some agreement was reached and we returned to our jobs but as a punishment all of us were transferred to another school. I was posted in this remote village where the head was one who favored the government so he made it obvious that he was not going to be too nice with me. I remembered that he accompanied me to a Year 6 class. It was a mixed class of about twenty eight boys and girls. He told me that in that school there were five Year 6 classes and those he gave me were the least motivated and as such there was no chance at all for anyone of them to be successful in the Secondary School Exam at the end of the scholastic year. Moreover, he added that some of these were rather trouble makers so he told me that I will be having a hard time this year.
But I found that things turned of to be different. On the very first day I talked to them and established personal contact with each one of them. I joked with them and complimented them for their nice accent in the way they talked which I really liked. Besides, I promised them that if they behaved and did all the work I told them, I will be rewarding them The reward was to be that the last half hour of each school day I will either take them in the yard and play a game of football, girls included or we will remain in class and I will tell them a nice story. After just a week I could see that the experiment was a great success. They enjoyed playing football in the yard but most of all they loved my stories which I narrated in episodes one leading to the next. Often they would ask me to continue the story and forget all about the football game. Of course I was too glad to oblige.
This method had many positive results because most of them did also do their best to do their schoolwork properly. Besides, they all were well behaved and we were just like one big happy family. I grew to like them a lot and they liked me too. Some of the girls who were really quite well developed for their age, literally fell in love with me and would write so on their exercise books which I collected daily to check and correct their work.
On the last day of that scholastic year the head of school sent for me in his office. I was somewhat worried because you never know what might crop up. I went in and he offered me a seat and told the janitor to bring me a cup of coffee. I was a little tense and very curious. In a few words he congratulated me because he had very positive comments about me from all the parents of the pupils in my class. But this was not the best news, he asked me how on earth did I succeed to tame those half a dozen who were always causing trouble and eventually with my coming to his school they became very proper students. But still the best was yet to come. Then he stood up and said to me, “Do you have any idea what you achieved this year?” I was not sure if he was being sarcastic or not. He fetched a sheet of paper and said, “Do you know that three of your students succeeded to pass for the Secondary School Examination. This is a record because usually only pupils from the best two Year 6 classes passed for this exam and yours was the worst class of the five. Very well done my man,” he said and he shook my hand really vigorously. But still there was something else he said he wanted to tell me. “What now?” I asked, “Is it good too or bad?”
“It depends on how you take it,” he said. He said that he had a dilemma for the next scholastic year. On one hand, seeing my achievement regarding the students academic output, he wished to give me a good Year 6 class so as to have good national success as regards the results in the entrance exams in a secondary school. But on second thoughts, seeing how I succeeded to control and eventually transform those trouble makers, he opted for his second idea. He said that next year there will be a whole class of non-achievers, trouble makers and good for nothing students. He wished that I would take control of this class. He added that it was surely not going to be easy but he was placing all the children in a classroom right next to his office so that if I needed any help he would sort of come to the rescue. Without thinking it twice, I told him that I will be glad to have this class next year. This time he went to his cupboard, took out two small glasses and a bottle of whiskey.
Please let’s have one together to celebrate the end of this year and also to congratulate you on your decision about next year.” We drank the whiskey and I hoped for the best.
But you must be saying, “What’s so remarkable about this story?” And you are right because so far it was just the background so as to understand more what was yet to happen in the next scholastic year,
“It depends on how you take it,” he said. He said that he had a dilemma for the next scholastic year. On one hand, seeing my achievement regarding the students academic output, he wished to give me a good Year 6 class so as to have good national success as regards the results in the entrance exams in a secondary school. But on second thoughts, seeing how I succeeded to control and eventually transform those trouble makers, he opted for his second idea. He said that next year there will be a whole class of non-achievers, trouble makers and good for nothing students. He wished that I would take control of this class. He added that it was surely not going to be easy but he was placing all the children in a classroom right next to his office so that if I needed any help he would sort of come to the rescue. Without thinking it twice, I told him that I will be glad to have this class next year. This time he went to his cupboard, took out two small glasses and a bottle of whiskey.
Please let’s have one together to celebrate the end of this year and also to congratulate you on your decision about next year.” We drank the whiskey and I hoped for the best.
But you must be saying, “What’s so remarkable about this story?” And you are right because so far it was just the background so as to understand more what was yet to happen in the next scholastic year,
Soon summer was gone and the new scholastic year began. The head who now acted very friendly with me, came over and asked me if I had second thoughts about the class he offered me,
“Of course not,” I promptly replied. He then said that he was not expecting me to achieve academic miracles with this group. He added that if I succeeded to make them behave and keep them out of mischief, it was enough. I was also given a free hand in what I did…….no time-tables, no syllabus, not any type of tests or exams, just keep them as happy as possible so as not to cause any trouble if possible. So here they were a bunch of about eighteen eleven and twelve year old boys and girls. My first impression was that they were really trouble makers and for the first few minutes we glanced at each other as if we were studying each other. My brain was working extra hard to find a way how I could break the ice and at the same time make them realize that this was going to be different than the usual stuff.
Idea!! The classroom was rather big. It was about twice as long as it was wide. Of course they were sitting in the front half of the class while the back half was empty. Then I stood up. My height (almost 6 feet) was here an asset. All looked at me passing various comments. I began…… first impressions count a lot. “First of all Good Morning ladies and gentlemen, how are you all?” An uproar of shouting followed but I was expecting that.
“Now I want to get to know each and everyone of you and also I want to see what you are good at…..anything you can do which you think that many others can’t do but to do this properly I want you to move your table and chair to the back of the classroom with as little noise as possible.” I did not finish the sentence that they dragged the chairs and tables with so much noise that the head must have thought that they were attacking me.Then I said, “We will be doing this exercise often because sometimes I like to have some empty space in front so as to do several things together. So let’s do it again, this time we have to make much less noise. Imagine that you are thieves and you do not want to wake up all those in the house so do it without a single noise if possible…….. shall we try it again and bring first the tables and then the chairs to where they were before? Remember your are supposed to be thieves, alright? Go". This time they moved on tiptoes and although there were a couple of collisions, it was much better than the firs time, “Very, very good. Now at my ‘go’ take them back with out a single noise…..you can do it, ready? Go.” This time it was done perfectly and I congratulated them.
“Now, I want the girls to stand against the wall on the right and the boys to stand on the left.”
They were obeying me and it seems that they were enjoying themselves. I wish to have somebody who can do something that most of the others surely do not know how to do. Those of you who wish to do so, come to the center of the room. There was a moment of silence and nobody moved but I got lucky. A girl stepped forward. “Please say your name and tell us what you are going to do," I told her. She said her name and continued that one of the boys in class and herself go to a dancing school together. The boy presently joined her and I told them to dance together. They talked it over for a second and then confidently they started to dance in the middle of the room, the girl making also the sound of the music with her mouth. The others looked on with amazement and when they stopped every body clapped hard. “Anyone else? Anything will do.” Encouraged by the first participants a boy went and took out a big ball from a bag, he called out his name and said that he was good at ball juggling. And so he was. For more than five minutes he juggled the ball with both legs, head, shoulder…etc. Then all wanted to show off. There was a girl who was good at gymnastics, a boy could walk on his hands, another one could do the cart wheel, two of the girls were good singers, another boy imitated Elvis and he sang and danced, one even knew how to imitate the sound of various animals. It took more than an hour for them all to show off their talents. I had won them and they were happy.
.
“Of course not,” I promptly replied. He then said that he was not expecting me to achieve academic miracles with this group. He added that if I succeeded to make them behave and keep them out of mischief, it was enough. I was also given a free hand in what I did…….no time-tables, no syllabus, not any type of tests or exams, just keep them as happy as possible so as not to cause any trouble if possible. So here they were a bunch of about eighteen eleven and twelve year old boys and girls. My first impression was that they were really trouble makers and for the first few minutes we glanced at each other as if we were studying each other. My brain was working extra hard to find a way how I could break the ice and at the same time make them realize that this was going to be different than the usual stuff.
Idea!! The classroom was rather big. It was about twice as long as it was wide. Of course they were sitting in the front half of the class while the back half was empty. Then I stood up. My height (almost 6 feet) was here an asset. All looked at me passing various comments. I began…… first impressions count a lot. “First of all Good Morning ladies and gentlemen, how are you all?” An uproar of shouting followed but I was expecting that.
“Now I want to get to know each and everyone of you and also I want to see what you are good at…..anything you can do which you think that many others can’t do but to do this properly I want you to move your table and chair to the back of the classroom with as little noise as possible.” I did not finish the sentence that they dragged the chairs and tables with so much noise that the head must have thought that they were attacking me.Then I said, “We will be doing this exercise often because sometimes I like to have some empty space in front so as to do several things together. So let’s do it again, this time we have to make much less noise. Imagine that you are thieves and you do not want to wake up all those in the house so do it without a single noise if possible…….. shall we try it again and bring first the tables and then the chairs to where they were before? Remember your are supposed to be thieves, alright? Go". This time they moved on tiptoes and although there were a couple of collisions, it was much better than the firs time, “Very, very good. Now at my ‘go’ take them back with out a single noise…..you can do it, ready? Go.” This time it was done perfectly and I congratulated them.
“Now, I want the girls to stand against the wall on the right and the boys to stand on the left.”
They were obeying me and it seems that they were enjoying themselves. I wish to have somebody who can do something that most of the others surely do not know how to do. Those of you who wish to do so, come to the center of the room. There was a moment of silence and nobody moved but I got lucky. A girl stepped forward. “Please say your name and tell us what you are going to do," I told her. She said her name and continued that one of the boys in class and herself go to a dancing school together. The boy presently joined her and I told them to dance together. They talked it over for a second and then confidently they started to dance in the middle of the room, the girl making also the sound of the music with her mouth. The others looked on with amazement and when they stopped every body clapped hard. “Anyone else? Anything will do.” Encouraged by the first participants a boy went and took out a big ball from a bag, he called out his name and said that he was good at ball juggling. And so he was. For more than five minutes he juggled the ball with both legs, head, shoulder…etc. Then all wanted to show off. There was a girl who was good at gymnastics, a boy could walk on his hands, another one could do the cart wheel, two of the girls were good singers, another boy imitated Elvis and he sang and danced, one even knew how to imitate the sound of various animals. It took more than an hour for them all to show off their talents. I had won them and they were happy.
.
But there was this big boy who kept back and I noticed that he did not do any thing. I did not know if he was timid or he considered all this as B.S.
I had to get this chap on my side too otherwise I might lose everything I had built so far.
So I asked for him for his name and reluctantly he pronounced it. “A big, strong fellow like you, sure has something to show off.” He looked at me and in a challenging way he said, “Ok. I will challenge you to have a round of ‘Arm Wrestling’. I was a bit shocked. If I understood right, this guy wanted to show all the class that he was stronger than me. What shall I do? I knew about this feat of strength and to be honest, I was not that good at it. Besides, this chap looked really fit and strong. I had to think fast both for his own good and my own.
“OK man; I will accept the challenge on two conditions. Number one, the duration of our arm wrestling contest will not be more than one minute,” I said this because I knew that my weak point was endurance,
“OK,” said Rambo.” I will accept the first condition, what about the second?”
“Simple,” I said, I wish to challenge you for another feat of strength, this time my way…..I will tell you about it later. Let’s start with your way first. I asked two boys to place a table and two chairs in the middle of the class. This done, Rambo and I sat on a chair opposite each other. I asked the other students to form a circle around us but not too close. Soon we were holding each others' palms tightly, with our elbows on the table. He had an extra large hand and to impress me he rolled up his sleeve as high as he could to show me his muscles. I joked and asked him how did he get all those muscles. “Cutting stones everyday after school hours. That’s my part-time job”
“Oh, that explains it. So you will surely win this challenge!” I said with a smile.
“Don’t bring excuses, you are a tall strong man and twice my age for sure.”
Now I was getting nervous. “OK, OK” I said let’s start”. He gripped my hand and squeezed my fingers. I could hardly grip his. I put someone in charge to keep track of the time. “Just one minute OK?”
“OK, OK one, two go.” Rambo exclaimed and pushed down my hand as hard as he could. I responded and made a big effort to push his down but it was as steady as a rock. Again I tried to take him by surprise but, no dice. To my surprise almost all the other students were encouraging me not their fellow class mate. I did not wish to let them down. By now both our faces were as red as a poppy and drops of sweat were on our forehead. The watch was ticking. I resisted and every second seemed eternity. He made another attack but I was expecting it and resisted. Then the time keeper started the countdown, “Ten, nine, eight, seven……………..’ It was the hardest part. My hand was aching and I was expecting to give up any second. But to my relief I heard ‘……..three, two, one, zero. It’s a draw!" All were shouting. I had to pause for a moment or two then I stood up and shook his hand and congratulated him and then I held his hand up and presented him as the class strongest boy. He seemed to enjoy it because he smiled all the way. I had almost forgotten about the second challenge but the other students soon reminded me that we had still a challenge to do.
I had to get this chap on my side too otherwise I might lose everything I had built so far.
So I asked for him for his name and reluctantly he pronounced it. “A big, strong fellow like you, sure has something to show off.” He looked at me and in a challenging way he said, “Ok. I will challenge you to have a round of ‘Arm Wrestling’. I was a bit shocked. If I understood right, this guy wanted to show all the class that he was stronger than me. What shall I do? I knew about this feat of strength and to be honest, I was not that good at it. Besides, this chap looked really fit and strong. I had to think fast both for his own good and my own.
“OK man; I will accept the challenge on two conditions. Number one, the duration of our arm wrestling contest will not be more than one minute,” I said this because I knew that my weak point was endurance,
“OK,” said Rambo.” I will accept the first condition, what about the second?”
“Simple,” I said, I wish to challenge you for another feat of strength, this time my way…..I will tell you about it later. Let’s start with your way first. I asked two boys to place a table and two chairs in the middle of the class. This done, Rambo and I sat on a chair opposite each other. I asked the other students to form a circle around us but not too close. Soon we were holding each others' palms tightly, with our elbows on the table. He had an extra large hand and to impress me he rolled up his sleeve as high as he could to show me his muscles. I joked and asked him how did he get all those muscles. “Cutting stones everyday after school hours. That’s my part-time job”
“Oh, that explains it. So you will surely win this challenge!” I said with a smile.
“Don’t bring excuses, you are a tall strong man and twice my age for sure.”
Now I was getting nervous. “OK, OK” I said let’s start”. He gripped my hand and squeezed my fingers. I could hardly grip his. I put someone in charge to keep track of the time. “Just one minute OK?”
“OK, OK one, two go.” Rambo exclaimed and pushed down my hand as hard as he could. I responded and made a big effort to push his down but it was as steady as a rock. Again I tried to take him by surprise but, no dice. To my surprise almost all the other students were encouraging me not their fellow class mate. I did not wish to let them down. By now both our faces were as red as a poppy and drops of sweat were on our forehead. The watch was ticking. I resisted and every second seemed eternity. He made another attack but I was expecting it and resisted. Then the time keeper started the countdown, “Ten, nine, eight, seven……………..’ It was the hardest part. My hand was aching and I was expecting to give up any second. But to my relief I heard ‘……..three, two, one, zero. It’s a draw!" All were shouting. I had to pause for a moment or two then I stood up and shook his hand and congratulated him and then I held his hand up and presented him as the class strongest boy. He seemed to enjoy it because he smiled all the way. I had almost forgotten about the second challenge but the other students soon reminded me that we had still a challenge to do.
I was happy with things as they turned out because after all I did not lose. I intended to use the second challenge just in case I lost. But they won’t accept to forget it. Moreover, Rambo wanted to know about it because in his heart, I was sure that he wanted to beat my after all. So I had to keep every body happy. I told them to stay all against the wall in their original position and they obeyed immediately. Rambo stood in the middle, I told them that to do this challenge I needed a wooden stick. I went to the back of the class were there were several strips of wood. I picked the right one. It was about 60 centimeters long and as thick as a thumb. Every body was curious about what I was going to do. I gave it to Rambo and asked him to hold it firmly with both hands from each end….one hand holding one end and the other hand holding the other end. “
“So the challenge is this. I can break this stick in two pieces just with one finger,” and to show him what I meant I closed my right fist and let my finger (the pointer) out. “So, now you hold the strip of wood firmly and I will bring down my finger with all my might hoping that the strip will break in two. Did you understand how t has to be done?” I asked Rambo. “Let me tell you something,” I continued, “this will hurt a little so if you do not wish to do it just tell me OK?”
“I am not afraid of hurting my finger and if you say you can do it, I surely will.” was his prompt answer.
“I know I can do it because I did it several times, do you want to try first,” I said.
‘OK, I will,” He was certain that he was going to succeed.
So I held the piece of wood in my hands and he took his position to do this feat. There was now perfect silence as Rambo took the necessary measures to hit the stick in the middle. “It’s all yours!!!”I said.
There were two simultaneous noises, one of the finger against the wood and the other a loud “Ouch,” from Rambo’s mouth.
I said promptly, “Did it hurt much? Are you OK?”
“I can take it. I want to try again!”
“Please don’t, the second time it will hurt even more.”
“Just once more won’t kill me!” was his reply, “I will succeed this time for sure!”
“OK,” I said, “ but at least, this time use two fingers and if you want my advice concentrate in your mind that you are going to do it and do not be afraid and hold back, hit hard and your hand will just pass through the wood breaking it in two.”
Again perfect silence! Rambo took all the advices I gave him. He put the pointer and the middle finger on the stick, drew a long breath, lifted his hand above his head and pammm!!! He failed again! He held his finger in his other hand and rubbed him vigorously. Then he said, "It can’t be done, I will bet on it. That piece of wood is too hard!"
“Ok. Let’s not make a big deal about it. Let’s get it over with. You hold the stick as tightly as you can and expect to receive a big blow on it. You are strong enough not to drop the stick. Are you ready? Here it comes.” I brought my hand down with great force and the stick was broken in two.
Everyone was amazed and some even inspected my finger. There was not even the slightest sign on my finger. Rambo took the two pieces of stick and succeeded to break one of them in two using both hands and pulling the stick as hard as he could on his leg just down his knee. It did break that way but not with his finger as I did. “One day I will train you to be able to do it.” I told him.
“Would you really, I would like that very much.”
"I promise, OK?
This was my first encounter with this supposed terrible class. In my opinion and it was not just an opinion, I had created a bound, a special relation with all of them. I have several stories about that scholastic year which although it was surely not my best academically, I can say that it was the best year because we all enjoyed a happy year where we used to do all sorts of things some even very funny. It was a very particular year. I narrated stories which they really adored. We played football not only at school but we were also given permission to play on proper football pitches, We did drama lessons, crafts, wood work, painting classes ….etc, Sometimes I would invite a guest such when I hired a professional magician. When summer was nearing I took them for boat rides and also camping. The head was very happy with all this because every one noticed that those who were supposed to be the schools’ trouble makers were now reasonable young men and women. I was a friend to them or better a big brother. But the next year, there was a new government and to fix what was supposed to be a punishment, I was transferred to my original school.
P.S. But before ending today’s story I have to confess something to you. The students never discovered this secret, but I have to share it with you. I will tell you the trick, because it was a trick, how I broke that stick. As much as all saw that I gave the big blow with only one finger, I didn’t. My finger was pointing out OK. But I hit the stick with all my might with my tightly closed fist but the action was so fast that nobody noticed it.
“So the challenge is this. I can break this stick in two pieces just with one finger,” and to show him what I meant I closed my right fist and let my finger (the pointer) out. “So, now you hold the strip of wood firmly and I will bring down my finger with all my might hoping that the strip will break in two. Did you understand how t has to be done?” I asked Rambo. “Let me tell you something,” I continued, “this will hurt a little so if you do not wish to do it just tell me OK?”
“I am not afraid of hurting my finger and if you say you can do it, I surely will.” was his prompt answer.
“I know I can do it because I did it several times, do you want to try first,” I said.
‘OK, I will,” He was certain that he was going to succeed.
So I held the piece of wood in my hands and he took his position to do this feat. There was now perfect silence as Rambo took the necessary measures to hit the stick in the middle. “It’s all yours!!!”I said.
There were two simultaneous noises, one of the finger against the wood and the other a loud “Ouch,” from Rambo’s mouth.
I said promptly, “Did it hurt much? Are you OK?”
“I can take it. I want to try again!”
“Please don’t, the second time it will hurt even more.”
“Just once more won’t kill me!” was his reply, “I will succeed this time for sure!”
“OK,” I said, “ but at least, this time use two fingers and if you want my advice concentrate in your mind that you are going to do it and do not be afraid and hold back, hit hard and your hand will just pass through the wood breaking it in two.”
Again perfect silence! Rambo took all the advices I gave him. He put the pointer and the middle finger on the stick, drew a long breath, lifted his hand above his head and pammm!!! He failed again! He held his finger in his other hand and rubbed him vigorously. Then he said, "It can’t be done, I will bet on it. That piece of wood is too hard!"
“Ok. Let’s not make a big deal about it. Let’s get it over with. You hold the stick as tightly as you can and expect to receive a big blow on it. You are strong enough not to drop the stick. Are you ready? Here it comes.” I brought my hand down with great force and the stick was broken in two.
Everyone was amazed and some even inspected my finger. There was not even the slightest sign on my finger. Rambo took the two pieces of stick and succeeded to break one of them in two using both hands and pulling the stick as hard as he could on his leg just down his knee. It did break that way but not with his finger as I did. “One day I will train you to be able to do it.” I told him.
“Would you really, I would like that very much.”
"I promise, OK?
This was my first encounter with this supposed terrible class. In my opinion and it was not just an opinion, I had created a bound, a special relation with all of them. I have several stories about that scholastic year which although it was surely not my best academically, I can say that it was the best year because we all enjoyed a happy year where we used to do all sorts of things some even very funny. It was a very particular year. I narrated stories which they really adored. We played football not only at school but we were also given permission to play on proper football pitches, We did drama lessons, crafts, wood work, painting classes ….etc, Sometimes I would invite a guest such when I hired a professional magician. When summer was nearing I took them for boat rides and also camping. The head was very happy with all this because every one noticed that those who were supposed to be the schools’ trouble makers were now reasonable young men and women. I was a friend to them or better a big brother. But the next year, there was a new government and to fix what was supposed to be a punishment, I was transferred to my original school.
P.S. But before ending today’s story I have to confess something to you. The students never discovered this secret, but I have to share it with you. I will tell you the trick, because it was a trick, how I broke that stick. As much as all saw that I gave the big blow with only one finger, I didn’t. My finger was pointing out OK. But I hit the stick with all my might with my tightly closed fist but the action was so fast that nobody noticed it.