The Power of One

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The power of one is and has always been the most sought after and forgotten concept in human history. To determine who the power lies in has often been left to the historians to debate and perhaps immortalize. However, many career and new educators have often sifted through the troubled students in their charge and chosen one they thought could be reached or at least shown a different path that could be chosen. What makes a student that others have given up on attract attention to them, and garnish the mentoring in more than course work is often a mystery. Why educators choose a student to mentor through the year or years they have together however is not. Educators enjoy teaching students; this education is not limited to science or mathematics. I have chosen a young man I will call Shawn as my Asteroidea. Shawn is a fourteen year old student that has recently been sent to our school after recently being released from the treatment center. Shawn has psychological issues that affect his studies and his reading is currently at the third grade level. Shawn needs to be placed up front so his efforts can be monitored and help can be easily given. However, he has issues with other people being behind him. Shawn will set up front in my class, but when asked he requested that he be allowed to turn his chair sideways so he could watch the people behind him. This concession was given so Shawn could feel a sense of control over the situation. In other classes Shawn is required to set up front and is not allowed to turn sideways. While a seemingly small thing to teachers, this lack of control can change a situation from a pleasant one to one that ends in confrontation. After leaving my class last a few weeks ago, Shawn was asked to sit i... ... middle of paper ... ... no expectations for improvement, but to be happy for those that develop. Shawn will continue to be given the respect that everyone deserves, and his shortcomings will be overlooked as long as they remain in the gray area. I will continue to give him positive examples and try to instill a sense of understanding that was or is not provided elsewhere. Addendum: Shawn of course is my student, but this is not his real name. This assignment confirms my belief that everyone should be treated equal, and even the worse students deserve many chances to develop positive traits. While I understand that time is always an issue, and I never have enough time to provide everything I want to any of my students, I believe that lesson plans should be flexible to allow for students like Shawn. If this means extra time is needed to build a curriculum for one student then so be it.

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