What School Children Have To Say

In August 2001, I worked for four weeks with a group of around 12 high-school children in a suburb of East London. One morning, I took them out to play football (yes, the girls too), after which I put to them this question, 'So what do you think is a good teacher like?' Here are some responses :

Tanya : 'A good teacher is someone who corrects me when I am mistaken.'

Denise : 'A good teacher is kind-hearted and does not take away my play-time.'

Mark : 'A good teacher urges me to work harder.'

Tom : 'A good teacher is someone who is always joyful.'

Margie : 'A good teacher is a person who tells me funny things like, 'Everything that is a bird can fly, but not everything that can fly is a bird'.'

Dominic : 'A good teacher is someone who can convince me that what I think is impossible is not actually so.'