We All Have A Little To Learn From Gong

--and especially for a few teachers who have been in the field a number of years. Do you think that they too learned about Gong and his teachings? Even from some one's point of view that does not have much experience to back it up, like mine, teachers could get so much more out of their day and so much more out of their students if they would apply Gong's teachings. Gong taught about his applied methods of getting his students to like learning. He wanted his students to respond genuinely to his teachings and take what they had learned to build upon it. In this, learning would never cease; ambition to learn would never cease. Students had better academic outcomes in Gong's classes, I believe, because he had real concern for his students. I also think that he tried to understand them and did not try to put them on a lower pedestal than himself. -- My teaching observation experience on Thursday brought this concern to my attention. Even though the three class periods that I attended were quite excellent and the teacher did a pretty good job in my perspective, I think that he could have applied more of this subject of Gong's theory. I noticed at the beginning of the first class period a student walked in normally and sat in his chair. He looked alert and ready to learn. I was not sure if it was his Hispanic ethnicity or maybe something from his prior class behavior that made him stand out, but the teacher seemed to latch on to him almost immediately from the time that he walked into the classroom. Out loud and in front of the whole class, the teacher asked the student where he had been for the last few days of school. The student did not answer. The teacher continued with his persistence in inquiry. The student then finally replied that he had been absent because he had his reasons. The teacher did not quite hear the student's sheepish and quiet answer, so he asked again with more intent. The student then began to become more insecure, looking around at his peers who were then staring at him. He bowed his head and replied more loudly that he had this reasons. The teacher then doubtfully muddled,"Oh, you have your reasons."
I think that Gong would have handled things differently. I don't think that he would have embarrassed his student in front of his peers, which could in time make the student not want to learn or even attend class. I think Gong would have pulled the student off to the side at a different time when no one else was looking and inquired about concerns if they happened to be present. That's what I would have done. In order to have a desire to learn, students need to want to respect their teachers, not hate them.