The Safe

[Igno van Niekerk]

Is a safe supposed to be locked?
Not if it is the safe called potential...
The greatest gift a teacher can give is the code that will open the safe.
For every learner, the code may differ, and therefore the teacher who believes in the learner is the persisting, caring and resolved opener of the safe.
It's all about cracking the code of the mind.
A great place to start is to build the self-esteem of the learner.
It's not through tests and exams, but rather through belief and caring that educators will change the world.
How many safes have you cracked open?

[Igno van Niekerk]

Scary Stuff!
I spoke to an artist last night.
She was doing a painting during class one day - and she misunderstood the question, therefore, instead of painting only the bowl of flowers, she drew the whole room with the bowl of flowers inside. She was told by the teacher that she should NEVER make such a mess again.
That sentence.
Once sentence (note the 2 meanings)...
She did not paint for 40 years!
Then she put it behind her...
Today she is an acclaimed artist.
What sentences are we delivering in class?
Do they imprison or liberate?
The prisons are full...
The pool of creativity, however, is waiting for teachers to send more inmates...

[Methuli Mbanjwa]

Very powerful, Igno!

The far side of the continuum of your last question can even be more detrimental to the potential of the learner itself.

-How many learners have you discouraged when they were trying to find the code for their own safes?
It's the same as hiding the safe behind a wall-unit, no one will ever see it. It's gone!
-How many learners have you confused as a teacher (knowingly or inadvertantly)? It is like putting more digits and complex numbers to the code, that it become harder or close to impossible to open the safe.

I certainly agree, often potential and talent is the function of identifying and nurturing by someone who is passionate about seeing the progress and growth.

Great stuff! I like.