BY ALEM HAILU
“Teacher may I ask you a personal question?” A bit afraid one of my best students that sits at the front row posed a question when I was about to dismiss class. It was two decades back while I was a high school teacher in Gofa here in Addis. Now he has become a teacher graduating from the then Kotebe Teachers’ Training College.
“No problem go ahead! ”I said.
As I use the democratic and humanistic approaches as well as start things from the scratch while teaching Mathematics, which many students see a difficult subject, relived from fear students actively participate in the teaching-learning process. Owing to this, even the average students used to score high grades. On not-few occasions I even witnessed slow and average learners that enjoyed support exhibiting excellence on par with the fast learners.
I owe the aforementioned teaching skill to my best teachers all along the ladder-starting from elementary school. Especially I picked best teaching styles from my gifted Mathematics instructors at Arat Kilo Science Faculty.
“No one forgets a good teacher!” reads a poster once I saw posted on a wall in an international conference. True, I still remember my best teachers that had cut a cherished corner in my heart. My hat is blown for all of them. By the way I have noticed differences from one book to the other. I used to read all Mathematics book in the Library and buying some dog-eared books to prepare notes I wished I had had while I was a student.
Instructors Tekle who taught me Advanced Linear Algebra comes atop the list. Of all his teaching skills at Arat Kilo Science Faculty I appreciate his method of starting from chapter zero.
“Chapter zero comprises preliminary issues and prerequisites that could help fill missing gaps! It as well helps to brush up previous lessons. A firm foundation is key for building things up. Above all, this chapter will serve an introductory period between you and me,” he introduced himself with beaming face the very day he started lectures.
True, I found his chapter zero helpful in making up for gaps ascribable to the failure of previous instructors in covering issues well.
Also, the way he used to give lectures with a sense of humor used to dispel anxiety of students. So, most students find not the course that difficult.
“Applied Linear Algebra is handy in handling big projects like dispatching Airplanes. Attend the course with undivided attention! Who knows one of you becomes a flight dispatcher,” he enthused us often with moral boosts.
Dr.Yismaw is also on the top rows of the list “He delivers courses like Abstract Algebra and Number Theory keeping the logical flow of lectures and making things down to earth to lucid.”
“I think you know this table from your high school courses on commutative, associative properties and the like. This course builds on that,” he nodes his head up and down.
He was serious on attendance.
“How could I give grades to s/he who missed a piece in the jig saw puzzle?” he used to alert us.
I stood a chance to have him a guest on The Ethiopian Herald. He was the 3rd president of the Ethiopian Mathematics Professional Association (EMPA).
“Come to the blackboard and attack this problem,” he used this technique by way of a continuous assessment.
Professor Alemayehu, the first president of EMPA, too has a special place in my heart. His mien was similar to Enestine. While he used to give us a course on Set Theory, a recently developed brain-ranking course and meant to graduating students, he used to transport us to a higher sphere. Always we became oblivious to our surroundings. He often taught us from 3Am to 1 Pm nonstop. It was only when reminded by a stomach pang we recalled the students’ lounge would be closed before we eat lunch .We had to knock our chairs to remind him time is up.
Descending from a higher sphere and alighting on earth he smiles and says “Is it for a loaf of bread you are doing that?” Bubbling with laughter we rush into the lounge. Old cooks there greet us with frowning faces.
“Why don’t you come on time? Why do you always prefer the eleventh hour? Why don’t you come early as your friends?”
“Sorry!” we say.
Though vexed, mothers themselves, they feed us well.
Of all the professor’s advices “At least once in your life you must know this!” clicks a bell in my mind when I come across abstract concepts taken scientists’ domain.
To date I am spell bounded by the course Computer Graphics. “Using Matrix Algebra we shall translate, transform and rotate a box. We shall develop a computer program to this effect,”Dr.Dida made us awe inspired. He was also a guest of Herald. My hat is blown for him too.
The soft spoken and polite instructor Aklilu who taught us Optimization technique was among my favorite teachers. “Optimization is all about maximizing profit minimizing loss. Unlike operational research we shall deal with it in the rigorous mathematical way,” he told us reminding us Mathematics demands proofs not only applications.
Dissimilar to all the instructors above there was a certain instructor Mr.X who liked dressing down all students at least twice a period. “Of course Grade 12th national examination might have been stolen how did you manage to pass grade 8 national examination! ” he glared on us walking to and fro.
“Your mid semester result was disastrous,” he adored threatening us.
“The problem is not with you. It resides with those who gave you prerequisite courses. They are no better than you!”
Later I understood he used this approach to make students take the course with ducking heads thereby avoid possible challenging questions from them. Why he became embittered and why he preferred threatening treatment is still a mystery for me.
From lower grades I also appreciate teacher Eshete who taught me grade 8th science.
He used to change all the questions on the national exam prepared by the MoE into useful notes. As all of the teachers assigned to us were good, I remember I scored the highest grade in my educational pursuit then.
Flipping back to the question, my student raised at the opening of this piece.
“Go ahead pose your question! ” I said to my student.
“Could a teacher fall in love with his student?”
“Well you raised a good point; he must not do unfair things such as showing preferential treatments and giving her undue marks. He must avoid things that destruct the teaching and learning process. But familiarization could open doors for affectionate bonds. One can’t fall in love with someone he doesn’t know or see!”’
“Have you read Fikre Eskemekabre (love up to death).The love between Seblewengle and Bezabeh?Love between a tutor and a student.”
“I tuned to its narration on the radio. Of course some female students fall in love with their teachers,” he cut in.
“Yes more often than not that is conspicuous on the intelligent ones.”
“Later in life if the love persists I see no reason why they couldn’t tie the knot! But as for me a teacher is a father figure!”
On last epiphany I crossed paths with that student of mine. Well attired with white costumes he and his wife with three children were tailing a replica of the arc of the covenant heading Back to Saint Gebrel church around Gofa blessing celebrants flanking it all sides singing and ululating. Youngsters were clearing roads ahead showcasing every sort of traditional dance. Roads were bedecked by Ethiopia’s tricolor.
Days remain before the coming Epiphany, the faithful and tourists eagerly look forward to.
After changing greetings I asked him “Was she you student?” pointing to his wife. Blushing a bit he nodded yes. I think he remembers well that question he asked me once.
The Ethiopian herald January 14/2021
