Children Quote by Hal Porter
“While still sixteen I am put in charge of a class of forty children who are two, three or four years younger than I. I fall in love with them. They are my possession, my mob whose forty minds, under my flashy and domineering control, are to become one, a mind unsullied by errors, unmarked by blots, contaminated by misplaced originalities outside the curriculum, and as full of facts as a pomegranate seed.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Laughter of the Gods, 1965
A young teacher feels deep affection for his class, viewing them as a collective mind to be shaped and filled with knowledge,
In simple terms: A teacher loves his students and wants to shape their minds.
Nurture curiosity and guide learning.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- classroom teaching
- curriculum design
- student mentorship
- educational leadership
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can a teacher balance guidance with respecting individuality?
- What risks arise from treating students as a single mind?
Idealizing students may overlook individual needs and autonomy.