Playing Favorites

“I think I’m Ms. E.’s favorite student,” my son remarked casually.

“Really?  How come?” I asked.

“Because she gave me the gold star eraser, and everyone else wanted it.”

“Did everyone else get erasers too?” I queried.

“Yeah, but I was the only one who got the gold star, so I think that means I’m her favorite.”

My son’s 2nd grade teacher, Ms. E., is wonderful–she is encouraging and positive, constantly nurturing what is best about the children in her classroom.  Our family has really grown to appreciate her this year.

But having observed her, and having interacted with her on several occasions, I can very safely say that my son is not her favorite student, and that she does not favor any of the students over others.  If you ask Ms. E., she will almost certainly say that she does everything in her power to treat children fairly, but differently based on who they are.  She does not favor one student over another, but adapts her approach to each of them based on what she discovers about them.

But there is something not to be missed here.  My son thinks that he is Ms. E.’s favorite student.  He feels like he is.  Ms. E. has created an environment in which her leadership affords this to every child in her classroom, and my son feels valued and confident because he believes that someone he likes and respects, his teacher, thinks he is important and special and talented.

Now pause with me for a moment–what might our world be like if every classroom, every organization, every home operated like this?  What if each student, employee, or member felt as though the leader was “playing favorites” and that, whatever else had occurred before then, he or she was the favorite?!

That, friends, is a perception that can change people.

And leadership to compel our aspiration.

~ by stoshdwalsh on March 26, 2010.