PEDAGOGY AND PARABLES

In the parable of the sower, among the many seeds sown only a very few meet the right conditions to grow. While the parable did not refer to education, I most certainly believe it does apply.

As a teacher’s practice broadens and deepens, and a principled, personal pedagogy takes shape, it is easy to place so much faith in our philosophies that we expect perfect results. I am particularly guilty of this, and I am likely to refuse failure as an option: if students do not understand, it must be my fault.

Today a dear colleague and friend, who has invested faith and heart and lifeblood in my students, withdrew from teaching the course. Despite her tireless creative endeavours to inspire and educate them (and she certainly inspired me in the process), she had witnessed no progress during students’ classes.

The parable of the sower could be interpreted to mean that some of the seeds of learning will never sprout. Yet later this afternoon, one of these students actually asked for extra homework to improve his English. Another initiated a casual conversation when I passed him on campus. Four weeks ago these students would not talk to me without an interpreter.

Perhaps some seeds just take longer than others. And I have my colleague to thank for even sowing that seed. Where there is learning, we all reap the fruit.