BlogEvolve.com

Recently there was a report in the newspaper about a young student who was told by his headmaster that he had no future. That he would "not amount to anything." I'm appalled that teachers still say such things, though I do not know the real context of the conversation, but I can only report on my experience.

When I was in third year high school, I was late putting in an "assignment". I can't recall now what my excuse was, but I know I was busy with Girl Guides at the time, and though I completed the rest of my class tasks, there was one that was to be a great cause of distress for me. I did do it in the end, but was marked down for my tardiness, but it is what this teacher did.

She phoned my mother and told my mother to take me out of school and send me to work in a factory. She said that I "wouldn't amount to anything." My mother, wisely, did not take any notice of the advice and I just changed schools at the end of the year. Instead of doing an academic course, I was put in secretarial college.

As it turns out I would probably have more passes and credits in my Intermediate, as it was then called, than any other student. I ended up with 11 subjects and two credits. Most people would only do 8 maximum.

Anyway I did have a good career, or am still having a good career, and I know that the teacher's predictions did not come true.

When I was at university in the late 1990's I discovered that there were many of us who had been told that we were useless, or had no future by our teachers who were meant to inspire us - not put us down. Now, I know that sometimes the conversation between student, teacher and possibly parent was meant to inspire, or guide us to make some positive changes, but we could all remember the negative message.

All of us. And here we were studying at university. Later than we planned maybe, but in reality few people went to university and I know my parents could not have afforded the fee at that time.

We have all heard inspiring stories of young people who have had an unpleasant childhood, or teenage years. Some do go on to fulfill the predictions of their negative teachers, but I suspect far more go on to be great citizens.

Be careful what message you give people who are in need of hope, encouragement or inspiration.