A Book Cannot Be Judged Only by Its Cover
Appearances Can Be Deceptive
2023, Jacquline Dacres ©
**Names have been changed to protect privacy. This story took place when I taught at a Community College and before I taught at a high school.
I was in the process of wrapping up for the day when the Math teacher, Ms. Brown, unexpectedly entered my classroom.
She seemed excited to see me. Ms. Brown and I rarely interacted so I was puzzled about why she was here. But I did my best to not let it show.
“Hey Ms. Dacres, I have been meaning to talk with you for a while. Do you teach June Morgan?”
“Yes,” I responded. Now, I’m a bit wary. I have a personal policy of not discussing my students with other teachers without their consent.
“I want to know how June behaves in your class because I find her to be disrespectful and uncooperative.” I could hear the frustration in Ms. Brown’s voice as she continued to speak. “She is so rude.”
I was shocked because I always found June to be very smart, well-behaved, and well-mannered. However, I ensured that I kept a neutral face and tone of voice.
“Ms. Brown, in what way is June disrespectful and uncooperative?” I asked.
Ms. Brown readily supplies the answer.
“Ms. Dacres, whenever I assign classwork, the students are required to bring their books to my table at the front of the class so that I can check their work.”
“Do you know Ms. Dacres that all the students come with their work to be checked and corrected? All… except June. No matter how many times I tell the students to bring their work, June will not move from her seat to get her work corrected.”
Ms. Brown clearly had a lot more to say and so she continued. “I know that June is doing the work I assign. From where I sit, I can see her working on the questions. But June is not moving from the confines of her desk. This is a community college, and these are young adults. I can’t make them do what they don’t want to do.”
Ms. Brown was finished speaking and now looking at me to say something.
“Ms. Brown, I’m sorry to hear that you are having problems with June but what you are saying is surprising to me. Throughout all my interactions with June, I have never found her to be a student who is disrespectful and uncooperative. In fact, June is easily one of my best students.”
Ms. Brown was surprised and taken aback. Maybe she was expecting confirmation of her theory, but I gave her opposing information instead.
She then asked, “Are you telling me that June comes to you to get her work checked?”
“No,” I responded.
“In my class, I go to June and to all the students. The students don’t come to me. I go to them.” I continued.
While Ms. Brown was mulling this over, I asked her a question.
“Ms. Brown, have you ever seen June walk?”
Ms. Brown looked at me and her face showed her confusion. “Walk?” she repeated.
“Yes, have you ever seen June walk?”
“No, Ms. Dacres. I have never seen June walk.” Ms. Brown said quietly.
“That’s understandable Ms. Brown.” I continued, “Remember that we often enter a class and find students already seated there from a previous class. We also leave students in the class after we are finished teaching since they will often have another class.”
“Ms. Brown, I have watched June walk a few times and it is clear that she has a condition that makes walking incredibly challenging for her.”
“That could be a possible reason why June doesn’t move from her seat.” I continued, “Maybe she finds her walking impediment embarrassing and she is self-conscious about it. She likely doesn’t want the other students to look at her if she gets up.”
Ms. Brown was surprised and deeply shaken when I shared this possibility with her. It had never occurred to her that June could be facing such challenges.
Interestingly, one of Ms. Brown’s very close family members also had a walking impediment. As a result, she could empathize with June’s situation on a deeply personal level.
“Why not have a talk with June, the next time you see her?”, I suggested.
Ms. Brown walked away from my classroom that afternoon with much to think about.
On the final day of classes for the semester, I was in the process of wrapping up for the day when Ms. Brown stepped inside my classroom.
She seemed excited to see me, and she had two beautifully wrapped packages in her hand.
“Good afternoon, Ms. Dacres. Guess what? June gave me a teacher’s appreciation gift and she also gave me one to give to you.”
Ms. Brown continued speaking excitedly. “June is such a smart, intelligent, and awesome young lady. I wish all my students were like her.”
I smiled and collected my gift.