While thinking about the misuse of power I recall an incident relating to one of my maths teachers. Personally I have never understood what it was that he took such a particular interest in me. He wanted us all to solve the mathematical problems in a certain way. However, I often liked to take a different approach. As long as I could understand a problem and get to the correct answer I saw no issue with doing things my way. Like if I can solve a sum easily why should I follow a critical method? Yet, it seems that this was unacceptable in my teachers eyes.
He would demoralize me and tell me that I would fail in my examinations. Going to school to learn and the constant criticism from the teacher that I would fail in my examinations was quite demotivating. He did not attempt to help me understand where I was going wrong.
It is ironic that almost everyone in my school had a private tutor and that almost all of them were his students. However, the unique position that I occupied was that I had my own tutor who taught me maths. I always felt that he resented me for not being one of his private students. Perhaps, it is wrong of me to think so but it is the feeling that I have had all the time. It seemed that he resented the fact that I was not one of his students and that I took classes from someone else
I used to wonder if he took such a great interest in my studies just because I was not one of his students. Was it really necessary to belittle me. Did it not matter to him if I actually understood the subject or not?
It was truly frustrating that he was my teacher. Well, students are expected to show a measure of respect to their teachers. We cannot always openly defy them even when we feel that they are in the wrong. And, a single word from them can make us feel that we are the most miserable creatures on earth. It is this power that teachers have that I feel has been misused in my case.
I am not saying that teachers should not have power or position. If my method of solving a sum was wrong he was perfectly within his rights to correct me. But the method I was using wasn't wrong at all and the answers were correct.
I don't understand what is the point of being a teacher if one is only going to make students feel miserable? We are students and it is perfectly normal for us to make mistakes. However, I do not think that it is fair to make us feel that we are dumb.
I think it is possible for a teacher to criticize without being cruel. Like you can correct without breaking a person's spirit, right?
I don't think power should not give someone the privilege to decide what another can or cannot achieve. A teacher's job is to encourage his students and to make them feel confident about what they are capable of. It is not a licence for them to keep reminding students that they will always fail.
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