A teacher teaching Maths to seven-year-old Farhan asked
him, If I give you one apple and one apple and one apple, how many apples will you have?Within a few seconds Farhan replied confidently, Four!
The dismayed teacher was expecting an effortless correct answer (three).
She was disappointed. Maybe the child did not listen properly, she thought.
She repeated, Farhan, listen carefully. If I give you one apple and one apple and one apple, how many apples will you have?
Farhan had seen the disappointment on his teachers face. He calculated again on his fingers. But within him he was also searching for the answer that will make the teacher happy. His search for the answer was not for the correct one, but the one that will make his teacher happy. This time
hesitatingly he replied, Four.
The disappointment stayed on the teachers face. She remembered that Farhan liked strawberries. She thought maybe he doesn't like apples and that is making him loose focus. This time with an exaggerated excitement and twinkling in her eyes she asked, If I give you one strawberry and one
strawberry and one strawberry, then how many you will have?
Seeing the teacher happy, young Farhan calculated on his fingers again.
There was no pressure on him, but a little on the teacher. She wanted her new approach to succeed. With a hesitating smile young Farhan inquired,
Three?
The teacher now had a victorious smile. Her approach had succeeded. She wanted to congratulate herself. But one last thing remained. Once again she asked him, Now if I give you one apple and one apple and one more apple
how many will you have?
Promptly Farhan answered, Four!
The teacher was aghast. How Farhan, how? she demanded in a little stern and irritated voice.
In a voice that was low and hesitating young Farhan replied, Because I already have one apple in my bag.
When someone gives you an answer that is different from what you expect don't think they are wrong. There maybe an angle that you have not understood at all. You will have to listen and understand, but never listen with a predetermined notion.
him, If I give you one apple and one apple and one apple, how many apples will you have?Within a few seconds Farhan replied confidently, Four!
The dismayed teacher was expecting an effortless correct answer (three).
She was disappointed. Maybe the child did not listen properly, she thought.
She repeated, Farhan, listen carefully. If I give you one apple and one apple and one apple, how many apples will you have?
Farhan had seen the disappointment on his teachers face. He calculated again on his fingers. But within him he was also searching for the answer that will make the teacher happy. His search for the answer was not for the correct one, but the one that will make his teacher happy. This time
hesitatingly he replied, Four.
The disappointment stayed on the teachers face. She remembered that Farhan liked strawberries. She thought maybe he doesn't like apples and that is making him loose focus. This time with an exaggerated excitement and twinkling in her eyes she asked, If I give you one strawberry and one
strawberry and one strawberry, then how many you will have?
Seeing the teacher happy, young Farhan calculated on his fingers again.
There was no pressure on him, but a little on the teacher. She wanted her new approach to succeed. With a hesitating smile young Farhan inquired,
Three?
The teacher now had a victorious smile. Her approach had succeeded. She wanted to congratulate herself. But one last thing remained. Once again she asked him, Now if I give you one apple and one apple and one more apple
how many will you have?
Promptly Farhan answered, Four!
The teacher was aghast. How Farhan, how? she demanded in a little stern and irritated voice.
In a voice that was low and hesitating young Farhan replied, Because I already have one apple in my bag.
When someone gives you an answer that is different from what you expect don't think they are wrong. There maybe an angle that you have not understood at all. You will have to listen and understand, but never listen with a predetermined notion.
_________________________________________
Regards
MOHD IMRAN
Deptt of Physics, Faculty of Natural Science
Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi- 110025
_________________________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment