I understand my Goodman now and I wish I had understood him some 8 years ago.
Mr Goodman was the first nickname given to a teacher in my school a few weeks after he resumed work.
He came at a time when there was a tense Cold War between the teachers who doubled as house masters and students. It was a full boarding house system and we had teachers who served as guidance to watch over us after School hours.
They aren’t that nice and when we offend one of their numerous rules, the punishment meted out on us is a great one.
When Mr Goodman came, I remember that evening when he first surfaced, some of my friends and I helped with his small load, I won’t say we were happy but it was an unusual thing for a new teacher to be employed and also be a house master. In Fact this didn’t happen twice during my 6 years stay in the school.
After a few weeks, we observed how he relates with the students, it was great, it was as if the universe had finally decided to send someone kind, who is a replica of what we have been expecting from the other house masters.
The good relationship went on for a while which I’m sure other house masters must be jealous of. We often went to his quarter to play games of different kinds, he was genuinely interested in us.
After a while, I noticed he changed, he no longer laughed deeply at us again. Mr Goodman who never believed in the power of the rod now whips like his life depends on it. I remember this particular incident whereby he wanted to flog a student and he almost fell down because he was furious.
Then I wonder what has happened to Mr Goodman, why has he changed suddenly, why on earth has he chosen to become like the rest of the house masters, a badman.
My 1 year compulsory service after university made me find myself in a secondary school after 8 years of leaving the same environment.
As a very young person, I looked forward to having a good rapport with the students, building a special relationship with them, and imprinting my name in their heart so they would never forget me.
My plan went on for a while before it reached the breaking point.
Before long, I discovered the big disadvantages of being nice. I slowly find it hard to control the class, though I had a good relationship with the class. I was finding it difficult to get the deserved respect a student is supposed to give a teacher and right before my eyes I was losing everything I planned.
I knew I had to strategize, I changed from being soft to being hard. I allowed this to go on for a while then I became unpredictable. Today I might be soft and tomorrow I wear my hard mask. It offers balance and further push the narrative that when you are nice, too nice, people will take you for granted.
This must have been what Mr Goodman and other house masters faced which we didn’t understand then. Mr Goodman on the other hand, was a novice in the game, just like me. So I guess he too had dreams of making himself a beloved among the students and it became scattered.
I learnt the hard way and I wish I didn’t misunderstood Mr Goodman then.
