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What can I say? David came into my class crying,begging not offer mathematics as a subject.  Anything but Math.  I cannot remember quite well how and where we started, we never mentioned the words math, subtract, add, multiply or divide. Thinking of it now, what words did we replace them with? Some things I never knew before I came into teaching. Sometimes I wonder where the inspiration comes from.

Teaching has to do with creativity. Every child is peculiar. Every student requires a specific type of approach. Today I look at David …. And I think to myself, I did a good job!

The new boy, that’s what David called him. What could his problem be?  We’ll sure find out. It’s almost break time and I need to prepare for the ‘new boy’.

“Sir, we are here” is what I hear barely seconds after deciding what route to tread with my new ‘project’.  Yes, project because today marks our entry point, today we determine what we would be looking at, at specified intervals. Today we determine our milestones and how we achieve them. We create action plans for me and the new boy…

“First of all, my dear, what’s your name?”

“Haruna sir”

“I am Teacher Tunde” (did I call myself that?)

“So, what do you think about math?”

“Nothing. All my math teachers are not friendly. They think everybody is like them. They expect you to be like them. “

“So, what don’t you like, the math teacher or math itself?’’

“I have never liked any teacher”

I sit still looking at the young man, unable to decipher what it is. Is this boldness or brazenness?  Where is this kid coming from? 

Well, I believe that students’ liking for a subject is determined by how well they take to the teacher. Although this is a first, we have to find a way to deal with it. This is clearly another nut to crack.