The Teacher He Never Had ...

My father-in-law never liked school. In fact, he hated education. Not because he didn’t value learning mind you, but because of the painful experiences he had endured as a student. His confidence had been systematically torn down by an education system that failed to see him, nurture him, or believe in him. When he spoke of those years, you could hear both the scars and the passion behind his words: ‘no child should ever be tormented by school, homework, or a system that crushes rather than lifts.’

When I began my journey as a teacher, he watched closely. I still remember the days he would visit my classroom in the US. He would watch quietly as I interacted with my students, observing the learning unfold. Later, he said softly, “If I had gone to a school like this my life would have been very different.”

As an IB educator I can just imagine what a phenomenal IB student my father-in-law would have been. He was a natural inquirer, whose approach to learning reflected strong ATL skills, keen insights, and the ability to see things from multiple perspectives. His communication was thoughtful and heartfelt, and his empathy and humanity shone through in everything he did. Had he been a student of the IB curriculum, he would have fully embodied the learner profiles, a resilient, reflective, and compassionate learner whose wisdom and character enriched everyone around him. He always reminded me, ‘Students may forget what you teach them, but they will always remember how you make them feel.’

So over to you then: What small actions or moments can make a child feel seen, supported, and inspired every day?