Life is interesting. Even as a teacher in a private school.
A few weeks back a young man came to my residence. He bent down as if to touch my feet. I understood that he was one of my old students though I confessed that I couldn’t recall his name. He introduced himself.
“I want a letter of reference,” he said. “I’m going abroad for higher studies.”
I drafted a letter on my laptop and showed it to him.
“Sir, with this letter I can get admission in any foreign university. Thank you so much.”
My ego was bloated. Could I do so much for a student whom I couldn’t even recall at first sight?
“Sir,” he deflated my ego sooner than I could have imagined. “Can you make a change in the letter?”
“Tell me,” I said.
“Can you change your name and write the principal’s name…”
“Yeah, I can do that,” I said hiding my sulk. “But how will that help you?”
I had written umpteen reference letters in my own name and this was the first time I was faced with this situation.
“Sir, I have brought a letterhead of the principal. You just have to change the name and give me a print of the letter. I will get the necessary signature and seal… Today is Sunday, you see. The office is closed. Only you can help me with the print…”
I helped him.
And I learnt one more lesson about being a good teacher in a residential school.
HAPPY TEACHER’S DAY to all teachers [belated, I confess].
Matheikal's Blog 
It’s nice to know that even teachers learn lesson from students. Belated Happy Teachers Day:)
Teachers learn not one lesson, saru, quite many from the students especially nowadays.
As you bend your back, make sure it does not snap!
Raghuram Ekambaram
No, Raghuram, it won’t snap because these are on the lighter side of affairs.
A bloggable experience, no doubt.:) Showcases how shrewd the youth have become to identify the goodness of the person(s) they wish to exploit.This also had a very typical ‘Delhi’ feel…
Aditi, I’ll be doing an injustice to the student community if I don’t state explicitly that experiences of the sort mentioned in the blog are exceptions rather than the rule. I have a wonderful lot of past students who keep in touch with me in a genuine spirit of friendship and attachment.
Matheikal, another possibility struck my suspicious mind. The student knew your command over the language and helpful nature and cleverly used your services using your leisure time on a holiday for getting a good recommendation for himself.
But if the student could ‘procure’ a copy of the letter- head of the Principal, what stopped him from coaxing/bribing(?)the office clerk from getting it stamped as well and simply forging a signature thereafter? If he did that , unknowingly you would have become an accomplice in forgery. In future please do not be so gullible, :).
You are right, Aditi. But in my school system, I think, things are not so bad. He must have got the letterhead through the proper channel. Similar things do happen sometimes.
A little confused that since you are not the principal, why you could sign his name? If the principal know this, he will allow to do this?
Satin, I think you didn’t read the post carefully. The student said he would get the signature and the seal…
Life is always a good teacher, and perhaps, a better one. Belated Happy Onam to both of you.
Thank you, Maliekal. Onam greetings to you too from both of us.