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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…” quote by Hal Porter
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“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.”

Hal Porter

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.

Key Takeaway

Nurture curiosity and guide learning.

Themes

education mentorship control affection

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

educational inspirational

When to use this quote

  • classroom teaching
  • curriculum design
  • student mentorship
  • educational leadership

Key Concepts

Pedagogy collective mind curriculum formation

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can a teacher balance guidance with respecting individuality?
  • What risks arise from treating students as a single mind?
A Different Perspective

Idealizing students may overlook individual needs and autonomy.

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