FLASHBACK- BY CLEMENT ERNESTERICK

I was exhausted but I had to push on. The exhaustion was a result of teaching form one to form three, yet I was given instruction to teach form four white a subtopic of waves: constructive and destructive waves.

So I stepped in class. Taught a whole subtopic on destructive waves only to realize at the end, that I taught the correct content but I had dictated the wrong subtitle: destructive waves instead of constructive waves.

"O, sorry class. Cancel the title you've penned and rewrite constructive waves," I instructed the class. They went into murmurs; they were in a state of inertia. I understood their fears. 

Earlier on, they played the know it all and were full of egos that promised a destructive life. The initiative I took to bring them back to line made them see in me a Teacher not only to be respected but to be feared; what they saw a weakness turned into steel. I made the whole stream lie on the assembly ground, and after receiving five pipes each, went back to class and continue with the lesson.

Seeing through them, I had to come down. " Now listen. A teacher can make mistake but a mistake done by your superior doesn't mean he is not in the know. Teachers are humans, and humans are fallible beings. When you see that I or we have made a mistake, take a proper approach to correct. Your approach to correction tells more of not only who you are but also who is bringing you up: your guardians/parents and teachers and the ladder goes on to sometimes, the government and ultimately the Pastors in charge of your souls. So, here, I just made a mistake due to mental and physical exhaustion but your reactions to that is telling!"

You see, no one is above error. No one is above the law. The only Person above it is God. 

Everyone's a student of life.  

© CLEMENT MWAKA ERNESTERICK

- Kenya