Teacher Agatha wiped off the whiteboard completely and turned facing the class, a smile-smeared face that gestured the end of the Biology class. While a few students shut their books in silent sighs, others kept a steady look at her, as she started to stroll from one end of the classroom to the other, her hands folded at her back, her eyes searching for something they couldn't grasp.
She paused at the centre of the classroom and cleared her throat.
“Class, we have come to the end of this topic. Now, to introduce us to our next topic, which is Micro-organisms Around Us, you all will be working in groups to make some findings and come up with creative techniques for understanding the subject content.”
The next words flowed effortlessly in her soft, tender voice as each student exchanged knowing looks. At the end of the announcement, the students were grouped into five, each group having a total of six members, except for the last group, which had seven members. The task was simple: each group was expected to conduct research and create instructional materials to aid the understanding of the concept of Micro-organisms. It could be a model, mind-blowing slides for presentation, charts, or whatever they researched on. The project was due in one week.
As Teacher Agatha took the exit out of the classroom, the students immediately began to switch seats, making scampering noises as they tried to locate their group members. Teacher Agatha looked over her shoulder, and a satisfactory smile crawled onto her cheeks. She was glad for such an approach that would put the SS One students on their toes.
She was sure not to appoint group leaders, for that was her way of testing how efficiently they could work without anyone bearing the title of a leader. And she remembered once telling them, “You don't need a title to be a leader.”
The next day after a class with the SS Two students, Teacher Agatha had just released her exhausted body onto her seat when she heard familiar voices outside the staffroom. A teacher gestured for them to come in, and they sprawled around her, like butter spread on a bread. Her eyes widened with astonishment that she almost fainted.
It was the members of the fifth group. She stared at them, her eyes demanding. One of them explained the situation to her. Other groups had started something, but they were still stuck on getting a group leader. No one was willing to volunteer for that role and they had come for her to rescue them.
Although mentally drained, Miss Agatha burst into laughter, looking at the frustration of her students. She used her handkerchief to dab the droplets of sweat on her face before tossing it to the desk.
“Students,” she found a serious tone. “The problem is not because you have no leader, but it's that you all have chosen not to assume leadership responsibilities.”
The seven of them stared at her, lost. She expected that. And she knew what they wanted.
Mira cleared her throat and spoke. “Miss, we just want someone to lead the project. Trust us, we are willing to play our parts and give this project the best, but we want someone to account to.”
Teacher Agatha peered from one eye to another, too fixed to make a decision. Her eyes met Billy's, then landed on Stanley's lowered face.
“Stanley,” she said. Stanley's heart skipped a beat. It was obvious because the fearful emotions etched on his face gave him away. Stanley was the most reserved among them. But recently, every teacher in the school wanted to give him a task or two. Teacher Agatha had just added to the numbers.
“Stanley, you are now the group leader for group five.” She continued, allowing her gaze to fall on the remaining six. “You all remember, this is a collaborative project, not Stanley's.” She repeated herself two more times, placing emphasis on what she wanted them to hear.
As the seven students made their way out, one of the staff teaching Animal Husbandry spoke out of the blue.
“Seems this guy has got the short straw. You know, I just picked him to head the school's presentation for the week.”
The Physics teacher instinctively let down the calculator in her hand. “You don't say! He's also one of the contestants of next week's quiz competition.”
Teacher Agatha could not tell why, but she smiled broadly at that. It was high time they challenged the unique, hidden ability in the reserved teen, Stanley.
The seven students chattered rather inaudibly as they approached the foot of the stairs. Mira seized a seemingly quiet moment and uttered.
“No doubt, Stanley's got the short straw this week.”
Stanley did not know how to react. He just forced a smile that got all of them pulling him close. They spoke one after the other.
“We are in this together.”
“This is our project, not anyone's.”
After everything, the students were elated at how things went that day. They were sure that the project would be great. Their leader didn't have to handle everything. They continued up the stairs, discussing how to meet at Stanley's house with one of them coming over with his fully charged personal computer and another preparing them a sumptuous meal.
© Delightedpen
