If someone had asked me years ago, “Why are teachers so important?” I would have confidently said: “They guide, shape, inspire, and build character.”
But life, parenting, and a few unexpected school meetings later… I realised something much deeper:
A good teacher doesn’t just teach the syllabus — she understands the child.
And in today’s world, that is everything.
The Big Classroom Shift: Millennials vs Gen Z & Gen Alpha
As a millennial kid, the teacher–student relationship was very formal. We respected every word they said. We didn’t ask too many questions. We didn’t speak unless asked. Teachers were authority figures, and we were obedient little soldiers.
Today’s kids?
Different generation. Different wiring. Different courage.
If they don’t understand something — they say it.
If they’re bored — they’ll admit it.
If they’re curious — they’ll ask fifty questions before lunch.
And honestly… it’s beautiful.
Their honesty is refreshing, even if it sometimes feels like a mini heart attack for us parents.
The Challenge Behind the ‘Behaviour’
But here’s the reality most parents today face — children are thinking, feeling, and learning differently. Not all children sit quietly, stay still, or follow the traditional classroom behaviour.
Some children talk more.
Some move more.
Some learn better when active, expressive, creative, or curious.
And yet, many classrooms still operate with old expectations:
✔ Sit still
✔ Don’t move
✔ Don’t speak
✔ Learn the same way everyone else does
But the truth is…
Not every child learns that way.
Not every mind sits silently for 40 minutes.
Not every child fits into a single mold — and they shouldn’t have to.
As author Jess Lair beautifully says:
“Children are not things to be molded, but people to be unfolded.”
The Pain Parents Don’t Talk About
There are days when you’re called to school and told:
“Your child is too restless… too active… too impulsive… not settling in class…”
And as a parent, you know your child is trying.
You know they are learning at their pace.
You know they are figuring out how to adjust in a world that expects everyone to behave the same way.
But explaining that?
That’s a silent emotional burden most parents carry.
And Then… I Met a Teacher Who Truly Understood
After many years of hearing labels, comparisons, and criticism, I finally met a teacher who looked beyond behaviour and saw the child.
That teacher is Sweeni Ma’am.
Where others pointed out flaws, she found strengths.
Where others complained, she calmly guided.
Where others hesitated, she encouraged.
Where others saw challenges, she saw potential waiting to blossom.
She understood that children grow differently.
She embraced the energy, the enthusiasm, the spark.
She celebrated what made the child unique instead of trying to “fix” it.
She created opportunities instead of barriers.
In a world quick to judge, she chose to understand.
She reminded me of Miss Honey from Matilda — that rare teacher who can transform a child from within, just by believing in them.
Why Teachers Matter Today More Than Ever
Today’s classrooms are full of diverse minds — creative minds, curious minds, active minds, sensitive minds, expressive minds.
This generation needs teachers who can adapt, evolve, and connect.
Teachers who see behaviour as communication, not disobedience.
Teachers who understand the child first and the syllabus later.
Because learning doesn’t need silence.
It needs support.
It needs patience.
It needs empathy.
And teachers like Sweeni Ma’am bring that magic into the classroom.
A Little Humour All Parents Will Relate To
Parenting today sometimes feels like managing a tiny high-speed Wi-Fi router with unpredictable signal strength.
Some days everything connects.
Some days the signal drops mid-sentence.
And on some days, even the teacher’s number on the phone display gives us blood pressure.
But when you find a teacher who understands your child…
It feels like someone finally switched on the ‘strong connection’ mode.
My Gratitude
To teachers like Sweeni Ma’am,
Thank you for seeing children the way they deserve to be seen.
Thank you for understanding their hearts.
Thank you for guiding them with kindness.
Thank you for giving them space to grow, learn, and shine — without judgment.
Thank you for being the difference every child needs.
We need more teachers like you.
The world needs more teachers like you.
And many children bloom beautifully because of teachers like you.
✨ A THOUGHT TO PONDER ✨
Are we trying too hard to make children fit into traditional expectations, or should we re-shape expectations to honour the beautiful ways children learn today?
Sharon's Read And Reflect 
good message
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Thank you 💕
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