In the middle of a typical sixth-grade science lesson, Mrs. Parker, a popular and astute educator, chose to pique students’ interest with an instructive and provocative question. “Class,” she said, turning to her students, “can someone tell me which part of the human body gets ten times bigger when stimulated?”
Suddenly there was silence in the classroom. There was an uneasy tension in the air as students exchanged anxious looks and eyes raced around the room. It was obvious that the question had confused them, and no one knew just how to react.
Then Mary, a bold, talkative girl who was known for speaking her mind without holding back, got to her feet suddenly. “Mrs. Parker, you ought to stop asking sixth graders questions like that! After I notify my parents, they will speak with the principal. “You’ll most likely be fired!” she cried, her voice filled with surprise and indignation.
Mrs. Parker merely smiled and quietly repeated the question, unfazed. “Now, class, could someone please tell me which body part becomes ten times larger when stimulated?”
Still clearly concerned, Mary whispered to her students, “Wow, she’s going to get into a lot of trouble for this.”
The remainder of the class remained still, either too ashamed or too unsure to guess. A long silence was broken, however, by a gentle voice. Billy, a quiet but intelligent student, got up and declared, “The eye’s pupil is the part of the body that tenfold enlarges when stimulated.”
The eyes of Mrs. Parker glowed. That’s right, Billy! Her voice was warm with encouragement as she remarked, “Well done.” Finally, the tension subsided, and a wave of relief surged through the classroom.
She then turned to Mary and said, “As for you, young lady, I have three things to say,” grinning knowingly. To begin with, your thinking is filthy. Secondly, you obviously failed to complete your homework. Thirdly, you will eventually be extremely disappointed.
Not at Mary’s expense, but rather at Mrs. Parker’s astute handling of a delicate situation, the classroom burst into laughing. What began as an uncomfortable silence evolved into a memorable lesson on assumptions, curiosity, and the value of paying great attention before drawing conclusions. It was not just about science.
If this story brought a smile to your face, then SHARE it with your loved ones!
