Have you ever heard the term "self-fulfilling prophecy?" There’s an old teacher story about a young teacher who went to work in an inner-city school (think Sidney Poitier in To Sir, With Love). Upon receiving the class list, the teacher noticed that there were numbers written out beside each of the students’ names. Not knowing what they signified, the teacher ignored the numbers and set about preparing a challenging and engaging curriculum for the students. The students responded beautifully to the curriculum. The teacher often talked to other teachers about this class and how great it was going.About midway through the semester, the teacher was visited by an administrator who inquired as to how things were going that semester. The teacher raved about the class and went on and on about how bright and challenging the class was and how well the students were doing. Obviously surprised, the administrator asked to see the class list. The numbers beside the students’ names were pointed out. The administrator asked the teacher, "Didn’t you notice these numbers beside each student’s name? Their low IQ scores were listed so you would know what you were getting into. Surely these students are not capable of what you say they are." The teacher replied, "I thought they were their locker numbers."
This teacher had not treated these students any differently than any other students. The teacher’s expectations were that the students would achieve and learn if the teacher did his part--teach. And that’s what happened. The students responded to a higher level of expectation.
Goethe (German author) has said, "Treat a man as he is, he will remain so. Treat a man the way he can be and ought to be, and he will become as he can be and should be."
- Sheree Yasko Hill
