Once a Math teacher was teaching to class of six years old.
She asked a boy, “If i give you one apple and one apple and one more apple then how many apples will you have?”
With in seconds boy confidently replied, “Four.”
Dismayed teacher was expecting an effortless answer – Three.
She thought may be boy hadn’t listen to question carefully.
So she said to boy, “Please listen carefully this time. It’s very simple. You will be able to answer correctly if you pay attention.”
Then she repeated, “If i give you one apple and one apple and one more apple then how many apples will you have?”
This time, to be sure boy counted on finger and hesitatingly replied, “Four.”
Listening to wrong answer again, teacher got disappointed. Her disappoint could be seen on her face.
She remembered that boy loved strawberries. She thought may be if she change question and use strawberries instead of apple than may be he will pay attention and answer correctly.
This time with exaggerated excitement and twinkling eyes she asked, “If i give you one strawberry and one strawberry and then one more strawberry, then how many will you have?”
Boy calculated on his finger again and with hesitating smile he replied, “Three?”
Teacher was happy. Her approach worked and boy was able to answer right.
So, once again she asked him, “Now, If i give you one apple and one apple and one more apple then how many apples will you have?”
Promptly boy answered, “Four.”
Teacher was aghast.
“How? Tell me. How?”, teacher asked with irritated voice.
In low and hesitatingly voice, boy innocently replied, “Because i already have one apple in my bag.”
Learning:
When Someone gives you an Answer that is Different from what you are Expecting, It is not Necessarily They are Wrong.
There may be an Angle that we may not have Understood at all. We need to Learn to Appreciate and Understand different perspectives.
Quite often, We Try and Impose our Perspectives on Others and Then wonder what went Wrong.
Teacher Student Story: Teacher’s Lesson – Criticism Story
Keywords: Teacher Student Conversation about Understanding Other’s Perceptive and Point of View Short Moral Story for Kids
Good to know