Motivational Monday: Lesson Learned From Mr. Smith

I have had many significant teachers in my life. Some formally at the head of a classroom and others as next door neighbours, friends, coworkers, managers and some out and out strangers who I spent time with for only a short period.

Today though, I want to honour one who, in a very brief moment, showed finesse and emotional intelligence. This teacher respected the student who had made a punishable offence twice, spared his feelings, made the point and showed the co-ed class his leadership skills while at the same time ensured that the class understood the issue at hand. 

Respect

My science teacher, Mr. Smith, is the person whom I wish to honour. He was upbeat, respectful, and he made science interesting and it stuck.  The student who goofed and created this punishable offence was, like the rest of us in Grade 10, just trying to fit in and, being a teenager, explore life in all the ways teenagers do.

Except, this teenager had brought porn to school and did not try to hide it. 

This was not the dainty cute lots of airbrushed PG13 no brown paper bag required type of porn but instead it was very vile. Mr. Smith, catching the student lustily gazing at the pictures, firmly asked him to bring it up to the front of the room, with the magazine “closed,” of course, so as to not offend anyone.

He then proceeded to ask the student why he felt the need to look at such a magazine in a public place. Did he not realize that some would find it offensive, Mr. Smith asked of the student before telling him to throw it the wastebasket. 

The lesson came next. 

Mr. Smith posed a most poignant question and gave a piece of advice that certainly many teenaged boys then and maybe now, ought to hear. 

"Why not invest your time actually talking to a few of the young ladies in the school because if you did spend your time talking with them instead of objectifying them, when the time is right and you are the right age, amazing things could happen with the right young lady?"

Now this was coming from a man who was not only (and still is I am certain) smart, hard working, approachable, volunteered more than most other tbe teachers and who taught the class that we all enjoyed taking - he was husband to one of the most professional and wonderful women. Mrs. Smith also volunteered at the school and was considered one of the best looking spouses that ever graced its halls.

So, Mr. Smith's words rang very true that day in science class. The student in question had a hangdog look on his face and repeatedly kept saying,  "Yes Sir,"  "Understood Sir," or  "Okay Sir." Without raising his voice, Mr. Smith made his point.  His words where well crafted, delivered with respect and he dealt with the student with dignity.

Thank you Mr. Smith for a first class example of how to handle a behavioural issue with dignity and respect.  What was even more powerful was how he made certain both genders in the room understood that:

1. We should actually talk to each other.
2. Connect with each other. 
3. Not objectify each other. 

I remember it like yesterday. What a great lesson and it goes to show the positive impact great communications make!

Till next time, Imagine Yourself with more Resiliency forLife.

Michael

Michael is the newest Guest Author here at Daughters of Sheba and I am so happy to have him with us! To interview Michael, book him for your next event or to consult you can email him or visit his website.

Michael’s Social Media include

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