--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think we expect enough of…" description: "\"I don't think we expect enough of students. They just need someone to show them the way.\" — Rafe Esquith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af4/rafe-esquith-15671_education_i-don-t-think-we-expect-enough-of-studen_237370.png" --- # I don't think we expect enough of students. They just need… ![“I don't think we expect enough of students. They just need someone to show them the way.” quote by Rafe Esquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af4/rafe-esquith-15671_education_i-don-t-think-we-expect-enough-of-studen_237370.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af4/rafe-esquith-15671_education_i-don-t-think-we-expect-enough-of-studen_237370.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af4/rafe-esquith-15671_education_i-don-t-think-we-expect-enough-of-studen_237370.png) > “I don't think we expect enough of students. They just need someone to show them the way.” [Rafe Esquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-esquith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Students often lack guidance; a mentor can provide direction and inspiration. **In simple terms:** Students need a guide to show them the way. Key Takeaway Offer clear guidance to learners. Themes education mentorship guidance Mood supportive encouraging Type advice instructional When to use this quote - classrooms - after‑school programs - career counseling Key Concepts leadership role modeling Questions to Reflect On - What qualities make an effective mentor? - How can we tailor guidance to diverse learners? A Different Perspective Not all students respond to a single approach. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [When I see students now, I just don't think they are prepared to work so hard. It comes too easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-jacobs/when-i-see-students-now-i-just-don-t-think-they-are-prepared-to-work/) [Marc Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-jacobs/) > [How can we expect students to succeed when they're worried about where they'll sleep, what they'll eat, and how they'll connect to the classroom?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-padilla/how-can-we-expect-students-to-succeed-when-they-re-worried-about/) [Alex Padilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-padilla/) > [If we expect students to be winners and expect them to do well, they will rise to the occasion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-escalante/if-we-expect-students-to-be-winners-and-expect-them-to-do-well-they/) [Jaime Escalante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-escalante/) > [“But what do we expect will become of students, successfully cocooned from uncomfortable feelings, once they leave the sanctuary of academe for the boorish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/but-what-do-we-expect-will-become-of-students-successfully-cocooned/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [In an era when careerism dominates the campus, is it too much to expect students to go beyond their private interests, learn about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-l-boyer/in-an-era-when-careerism-dominates-the-campus-is-it-too-much-to/) [Ernest L. Boyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-l-boyer/) > [“all the teachers at this school attack their students? Or are you just a raving bitch?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cannon/all-the-teachers-at-this-school-attack-their-students-or-are-you-just/) [Chris Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cannon/) > [“Failure is never a bus-stop for students, it is just a check point for all successful student”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-peter-obong/failure-is-never-a-bus-stop-for-students-it-is-just-a-check-point-for/) Emmanuel Peter Obong > [We don't hire students who are just good at academics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-sweet/we-don-t-hire-students-who-are-just-good-at-academics/) [Julie Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-sweet/) > [ “It reminded me that they \[the students\] were more than just their scholarly shortcomings and gripes about the workload. Each had a history, a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/it-reminded-me-that-they-the-students-were-more-than-just-their/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [Some students just don't like online class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-yuan/some-students-just-don-t-like-online-class/) [Eric Yuan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-yuan/) > [Like jilted and disappointed lovers, some of my students just want to be left alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-olson/like-jilted-and-disappointed-lovers-some-of-my-students-just-want-to/) Kirsten Olson > [It is not enough to offer a smorgasbord of courses. We must insure that students are not just eating at one end of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-bartlett-giamatti/it-is-not-enough-to-offer-a-smorgasbord-of-courses-we-must-insure/) [A. Bartlett Giamatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-bartlett-giamatti/) > [When I sit with students, I do not just want to help them solve their problems. I want to find a moment with each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-i-sit-with-students-i-do-not-just-want-to-help-them-solve-their/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [“Sometimes you need more than one way to reach the outside”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nova-ren-suma/sometimes-you-need-more-than-one-way-to-reach-the-outside/) [Nova Ren Suma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nova-ren-suma/) > [You need to find a way to maintain yourself every single day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-tatis-jr/you-need-to-find-a-way-to-maintain-yourself-every-single-day/) [Fernando Tatis Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-tatis-jr/) ## More by Rafe Esquith > [Teach like your hair's on fire!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafe-esquith/teach-like-your-hair-s-on-fire/) [Rafe Esquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-esquith/) > [I have students who are PhDs in music who come back and scored the music and teach the kids the instruments that I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafe-esquith/i-have-students-who-are-phds-in-music-who-come-back-and-scored-the/) [Rafe Esquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-esquith/) > [“Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness' I realized then where the problem lay. My students, and so many of our young people today,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafe-esquith/life-liberty-and-the-pursuit-of-happiness-i-realized-then-where-the/) [Rafe Esquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-esquith/) > [“Those who celebrate failure will not be around to help today's students celebrate their jobs flipping burgers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafe-esquith/those-who-celebrate-failure-will-not-be-around-to-help-today-s/) [Rafe Esquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-esquith/) > [I always tell the kids that excellence is like pregnancy. You can't be a little bit pregnant. You either are or you're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafe-esquith/i-always-tell-the-kids-that-excellence-is-like-pregnancy-you-can-t-be/) [Rafe Esquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-esquith/) > [Good teachers are an endangered species because they're giving up because of the tests and everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafe-esquith/good-teachers-are-an-endangered-species-because-they-re-giving-up/) [Rafe Esquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-esquith/) > [I'd like to give every young teacher some good news. Teaching is a very easy job. Administrators will tell you what to do. You'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafe-esquith/i-d-like-to-give-every-young-teacher-some-good-news-teaching-is-a/) [Rafe Esquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-esquith/) > [You hear terrible stories because there'll be a story about some terrible kid, but most of the kids I work with are terrific kids.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafe-esquith/you-hear-terrible-stories-because-there-ll-be-a-story-about-some/) [Rafe Esquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-esquith/) > [“Everything has become too easy for our young people, and we make things worse by lying to them. We don't help them face reality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafe-esquith/everything-has-become-too-easy-for-our-young-people-and-we-make/) [Rafe Esquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-esquith/) > [I am asking teachers to understand that we must make the education relevant for the children. If they're only working for the tests or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafe-esquith/i-am-asking-teachers-to-understand-that-we-must-make-the-education/) [Rafe Esquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-esquith/) > [“I didn't realize that many people, who may be good people, feel that working in schools is just a job and not a holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafe-esquith/i-didn-t-realize-that-many-people-who-may-be-good-people-feel-that/) [Rafe Esquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-esquith/) > [But to paraphrase Henry Drummond in Inherit the Wind, ignorance and mediocrity are forever busy, and the forces of mediocrity aren't content with being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafe-esquith/but-to-paraphrase-henry-drummond-in-inherit-the-wind-ignorance-and/) [Rafe Esquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-esquith/) > [The reason I love teaching, it's like being a miner. I find all these undiscovered jewels and, with the right motivation, they're amazed at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafe-esquith/the-reason-i-love-teaching-it-s-like-being-a-miner-i-find-all-these/) [Rafe Esquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-esquith/) > [With better vision, we sacrifice for students for whom that sacrifice will most likely pay off. I'm sorry to say this, but there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafe-esquith/with-better-vision-we-sacrifice-for-students-for-whom-that-sacrifice/) [Rafe Esquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-esquith/) > [I want my kids to know that they're just as good and just as American as Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, or Dr. Martin Luther…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafe-esquith/i-want-my-kids-to-know-that-they-re-just-as-good-and-just-as-american/) [Rafe Esquith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-esquith/) [Explore all 42 Rafe Esquith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-esquith/) ## More Education quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [“In school you are taught to obey and not to think straight for your own good. Otherwise the world would be full of millionaires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/in-school-you-are-taught-to-obey-and-not-to-think-straight-for-your/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“If one has not a head of steel it will burst; if he has not within it a brain of liquid quicksilver, he will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioannes-amos-commenius/if-one-has-not-a-head-of-steel-it-will-burst-if-he-has-not-within-it/) Ioannes Amos Commenius > [“let us not teach / what we have learned badly / and not profited by”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-d-hilda-doolittle/let-us-not-teach-what-we-have-learned-badly-and-not-profited-by/) H.D. (Hilda Doolittle > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [According to Plato, we don't learn anything. Our soul has lived so many lives that we know everything. Teachers and education can only remind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/according-to-plato-we-don-t-learn-anything-our-soul-has-lived-so-many/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“I only began to enjoy studying after I got through the educational system and became a so-called member of society. If something interested me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-only-began-to-enjoy-studying-after-i-got-through-the-educational/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you had made the acquiring of ignorance the study of your life, you could not have graduated with higher honor than you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/if-you-had-made-the-acquiring-of-ignorance-the-study-of-your-life-you/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [How wonderful it would be, I thought, if only we could practice the teachings of the Buddha as he really taught them from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/how-wonderful-it-would-be-i-thought-if-only-we-could-practice-the/) [Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/) > [English teachers tend to put more thought in the books than the author did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/english-teachers-tend-to-put-more-thought-in-the-books-than-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When will society, like a mother, take care of all her children?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/when-will-society-like-a-mother-take-care-of-all-her-children/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) [Browse all 37,666 Education quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think we expect enough of students. 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