DO WE TEACH:

WHAT WE KNOW BEST?WHAT WE WERE TAUGHT?

WHAT WE ENJOY TEACHING?WHAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH?

WHAT THE TEXTBOOK HAPPENS TO INCLUDE?

WHAT THE STUDENT MOST NEEDSFOR SUCCEFUL EMPLOYMENT?

Her name was Mrs. Noriah.As she stood in front of her primary

five class on the very first day of school,she told the children a lie. 

Like most teachers,she looked at her students

and said that she loved them all the same.

But that was impossible,because there in the front row,

slumped in his seat,was a little boy named

Aziz Sulaiman

But that was impossible,because there in the front row,

slumped in his seat,was a little boy named

Aziz Sulaiman

Mrs. Noriah had watched Azizthe year before

and noticed that he didn't play wellwith the other children,

his clothes were messy and heconstantly needed a bath.Aziz could be unpleasant

Mrs. Noriah had watched Azizthe year before

and noticed that he didn't play wellwith the other children,

his clothes were messy and heconstantly needed a bath.Aziz could be unpleasant

It got the point where Mrs. Noriahwould actually take delight in marking

his papers with a broad red pen,making bold X's and

then putting a big "F"at the top of his papers.

It got the point where Mrs. Noriahwould actually take delight in marking

his papers with a broad red pen,making bold X's and

then putting a big "F"at the top of his papers.

At the school where Mrs. Noriah taught,she was required to review each child's

past records andshe put Aziz's off until last.

However, when she reviewed his file,she was in for a surprise.

Aziz's primary one teacher wrote,"Aziz is a bright child with a ready laugh.

He does his work neatly and has goodmanners....he is a joy to be around."

His primary two teacher wrote,"Aziz is an excellent student,well-liked by his classmates…

but he is troubled becausehis mother has

a terminal illness andlife at home must be a struggle."

His primary three teacher wrote,"His mother's death has been hard on him.

He tries to do his best,but his father

doesn't show much interest andhis home life will soon affect him

if some steps aren't taken."

Aziz's primary four teacher wrote,"Aziz is withdrawn and

doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and

he sometimes sleeps in class."

By now,Mrs. Noriah realized the problem and

she was ashamed of herself.She felt even worse when her studentsbrought her Teachers' Day presents

wrapped in beautiful ribbons andbright paper,

except for Aziz's.

His present was clumsily wrappedin the heavy brown paper

that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Noriah took pains to open it

in the middle of the other presents.Some of the children started to laugh

when she found a rhinestone bracelet withsome of the stone missing, and

a bottle that was one quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter whenshe exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was,

putting it on, anddabbing some of the perfume on her wrist.

His present was clumsily wrappedin the heavy brown paper

that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Noriah took pains to open it

in the middle of the other presents.Some of the children started to laugh

when she found a rhinestone bracelet withsome of the stone missing, and

a bottle that was one quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter whenshe exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was,

putting it on, anddabbing some of the perfume on her wrist.

Aziz Sulaiman stayed after school that dayjust long enough to say,

“Mrs. Noriah, today you smelledjust like my Mom used to.”

After the children leftshe cried for at least an hour.

On that very day, she quit teaching reading,writing and arithmetic.

Instead, she began to teach children.Mrs. Noriah paid particular attention to Aziz.

As she worked with him,his mind seemed to come alive.The more she encouraged him,

the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Aziz had become one

of the smartest children in the class and,despite her lie that she would love all

the children the same,Aziz became one of her "Teacher's Pets."

Instead, she began to teach children.

A year later,she found a note under her door,

from Aziz,telling her that

she was still the best teacher he ever hadin his whole life.

Six years went bybefore she got another note from Aziz.

He then wrote that he had finishedsixth form third in his class,

and she was still the best teacherhe ever had in his whole life.

Four years after that,she got another letter,

saying thatwhile things had been rough at times,

he'd stayed in school,stuck with it,

and would soon graduate from universitywith highest of honors.

He assured Mrs. Noriah thatshe was still the best and favorite teacher

he'd ever had in his whole life.

Then four more years passed andyet another letter came. 

This time he explained that after he gothis bachelor's degree,

he decided to go a little further.The letter explained that she was still

the best and favorite teacher he'd ever had.But now his name was a little longer –

the letter was signed,Aziz Sulaiman, MD

The story doesn't end there.You see,

there was yet another letter that year.Aziz said he'd met this girl and

was going to be married.He explained that his father had dieda couple of years earlier and he was

wondering if Mrs. Noriah might agreeto sit in the place at the wedding which

was usually reserved for the motherof the groom.

Of course, Mrs.Noriah did.

And guess what?She wore that bracelet,

the one with several rhinestones missing.And she made sure she was wearingthe perfume that Aziz remembered

his mother wearingon their last moments together.

They hugged each other,and Dr. Aziz whispered in Mrs. Noriah's ear. Thank you, Mrs. Noriah for believing in me.

Thank you so muchfor making me feel important and

showing me that I could make a difference.

Thank you so muchfor making me feel important and

showing me that I could make a difference.

Mrs. Noriah,with tears in her eyes,

whispered back,"Aziz,

you have it all wrong.You were the one who

taught me that I could make a difference.I didn't know how to teach until I met you."

You were the one whotaught me that I could make a difference.

I didn't know how to teach until I met you."