Greetings!
Leaving my former place of work as a teacher, which is a school, went down well with me and this was as a result of their indiscipline and bad academic performances which they care not about.
So, being transferred to another school which is out of the same vicinity brought a sigh of relief to me as I had thought of taking up a new task at my new school as an English teacher of 18 years.
While leaving my former school, I made sure I listed out those things I would love to do on getting to my new place of work. I looked back and I realized those areas I had got it wrong in my former school.
So, leaving my old school was like a golden opportunity for me to right my wrongs and break the strongholds of over familiarity that had brought contempt to me and also to work assiduously on the students negatve attitude to their learning and performances in my new school.
On getting to the school I was posted to as an English language teacher, I went straight to the principal office to submit my transfer letter from the ministry of Education to the principal, Mrs. Gbadebo who was elated and excited on seeing, this was obvious in her dialogue with me when she said,
“Mr…” I quickly interrupted, “Mr Akintade ma.” “Pardon my forgetfulness,” she said. “Okay, no problem ma,” I replied. “You're welcome to our midst and I will be looking forward to your cooperation with me and other members of staff,” she said. “Okay ma,” I replied.
She continued and said,
“Mr. Akintade, I think I got your name right this time around?” She asked. “Yes ma,” I replied. “Please, there's another thing I need from you as an oliver twist,” she said. What's that thing ma?” I asked. She said, “I want you to help me with your pedagogical experience to improve the academic performance of these students,” she requested. “Mummy, there's no problem about that, I will make sure I try my best to improve their academic performance,” I said. “Thank you for that positive response, Mr. Akintade,” she said. “ You're welcome ma,” I replied. “You can now leave,” she said. “Okay ma,” I replied.
Immediately I left the principal's office, I went straight to all the class with my lesson note at hand. Immediately I got to the first class which is the Jss3A, I introduced myself as Mr. Akintade to the students and gave them the scheme of work for the term for it was the beginning of the term that I got transferred to the school.
So, after introducing myself to the students and asking them to also introduce themselves to me which they did accordingly and this was what I did on my first day at the school.
Furthermore, one thing I realized on my visits to the classrooms and the students was that there's no difference from where I was coming from to where I am now. Although, the school uniforms were not the same, same as the school setting. But when talking about the students behavior and character, nothing is different as they're all the same.
But thank God I have made up my mind before my resumption to the school that I wanted to be an agent of change and this was the platform that helped me to change the situation of the students around, most especially, some of them that are ready to learn.
The likes of Zainab, Adeola, Malik, Shayo, Niyi, Richard, Bernard and other serious ones among them were so elated when they saw my approach to teaching them.
The first thing I did to change the educational narratives of the school was to organize an early morning free tutorial for all the SS 3 students.
At first, few of them turned up, but when others saw the effect of the tutorial on those that have been coming, they joined the moving train and for this reason, the class we started with could not contain us and for this reason, I went to the principal and seek her permission for us to be using the school hall which she granted without hesitation.
So, immediately she granted our request, we moved to the school hall for the early morning tutorials on English language and it's a success. Also, when other core subject teachers saw me doing this, they also joined hands with me in moulding the destiny of the students and at the end, it's a complete and general success as all of them who sat for that year's SSCE passed with good grades.
When the result of the examination was released to the school, the principal called me and was praising me for the good work I have started in the school, she charged me not to relent nor rest on my oars. She promised to recommend me to the state government for the best teacher's award and I appreciated her for that.
Back to the students, the introduction of the new system to all classes from Jss1 to Ss3 has brought out the geniuses in them and instead of them relenting in their effort for academic success, they were all wanting the best for themselves. So, in the school, academic competition became the order of the day and it even replaced hooliganism and thuggery.
I was so happy for the mission accomplished and even the students on their own part also appreciated me for the job well done I have so far done in their life through God and my personal effort.
Although, we still have some that have not joined the moving train and I'm very sure they too will join very soon, though, everybody cannot be on board, but for those that are ready, we will not give up on them until we catch them young and tutor them to fulfill their destinies.
Thanks for reading.
Pictures used are mine
