The best times of my teaching days come with teaching a group who gave so much in return in terms of performance and attitude. I was an assistant class teacher to one wonderful Madam Dorothy for the Daisy class. We took care of these students like we were their parents. Always wanted the class to be a place where learning was so fun. She came up with very unique ways of receiving visitors(parents) and teachers in class. Any time these students where asked how there were doing as it has been a routine in most of the parts of the country. A teacher enters the class.....students rise to their feet....teacher greets...students respond .. . .. teacher asked how they are doing and the response is always the same" we are fine by the grace of God and what about you". In Daisy our response was very different. This response seemed to have possessed one student Selasi (my school son). I recall one time when we sat in the same mini bus heading towards Tech. (Knust area), this boy sat beside me at the back seat as we drove along. A man who had been eavesdropping our conversation turned to him and encourage him to read more as he was thrilled by the way Selasi was very good at expressing his views with the topics we discussed. Anyway they were not math related. He would be that articulate since he loved maths but the rewards were not promising. The man asked him how he was doing. I was shocked when this boy rose to respond " I'm on top and still rising". Omg! this boy brought this response outside the school. But why did he rise to respond to this greeting. Everyone in the mini bus turned to look at him. What a strange way of answering "how are u?" Very unheard of. Madam Dorothy had really made an impact. Occasionally we would teach them songs and poems and since our office in the same classroom the class was well managed. Our desks right behind the last desk. My task was to ensure the students conformed to rules and regulations. This I did the best that I could. Only a few students gave us some problems. Keziah( never forgotten crazy girl), Nana Kofi, Prince. Any these are the names that come to mind. I won't forget Lawrence the peace maker who unlike many would use his big size to protect the vulnerable. I was not assigned to Daisy to reach but that's where my kids were. As these students moved to grade 6 ( that's where the action started). Students from Dahlia moved to Comfrey and Daisy moved to Teasel. I lost these lovely kids to a new teacher when they moved. In Daisy they had so many indoor games at their disposal and we allowed then to enjoy the games anytime the class was free. We were an envy to all the classes. Even though every student loves to move to the next upper class, I can say these students wished they never left. The had joined a new class and I was tasked to teach the two grade 6 classes ( comfrey and Teasel) and then Dahlia. Comfrey? ???Hmmmm. What were they really known for....A science teacher with a military background. Their form master was my senior during my high school days. A disciplinarian. Coming from Dahlia where they were pampered and enjoyed breaking the rules. Now they found themselves in a new class where every move was well monitored. Teasel on the other hand were given to Mr Thomas (well built) form master. Well his physique did not intimidate these kids. Comfrey was a class full of kids from every part of the planet. They well gifted in breaking the rules. Records of fights, theft, bullying and can imagine the list. Well in my next chapter I'm going to expose the calm (Teasel) and the wild (Comfrey). Those who left before the best part of class 6.......Keziah and Nana Kofi....well if my memory serves me right. Sir Frimpong
