Teaching

Teaching philosophy

In the song L’écrivain, the singer-songwriter Alexandre Poulain from Québec tells the story of a student whose life is changed by a teacher, M. Désilet. At the start of the song, Poulain describes the student’s precarious situation. He explains that the student came from a poor working-class family and lived in a disadvantaged neighborhood. At school, although he worked hard, he was far from excelling, which put his dream of becoming a writer in jeopardy. On the eve of an exam, M. Désilet, who believed in the student’s abilities, approached him and gave him a pencil. M. Désilet told him: « C’crayon-là y est magique. Prends-le demain pour l’examen. Il sait les réponses et les répliques. » Thanks to the magic pencil, the student did very well on his exam. Not believing in his own abilities and wanting to keep succeeding, the student decided to steal the pencil, and with its help, he became a famous writer. Years later, at a book signing, he saw M. Désilet again. Consumed by guilt and thinking he owed his success to him, he confessed to M. Désilet that he had stolen his magic pencil. That’s when M. Désilet exclaimed: « T’as toujours pas compris. Y est dans ta tête, ton grand talent. Le stylo v’nait d’chez Uniprix [a drug store]. Laisse-moi te regarder maintenant. Je suis si fier de toi. Y’a pas un seul de tes romans que j’ai pas lu au moins trois fois. » At the end of the song, Poulain concludes that the student-turned-writer had so little confidence in himself that it was easier for him to believe a pencil held magic properties than to believe in his own intellectual abilities. In short, it was the attention, availability, and trust given to the student by M. Désilet that allowed him to believe in his own abilities and become what he most desired — a writer. When I reflect on my teaching philosophy, I think of M. Désilet and the relationship he built with his student. If, through the relationship I develop with my students, I can give them confidence and inspire them to dream and reflect, then I will have fulfilled my role. Teaching is so much more than transmitting knowledge; it is about accompanying and supporting students in their personal and professional journeys. By being available, showing adaptability, and having confidence in my students, I hope I myself can be a M. Désilet to someone who needs it and help them be ambitious in their dreams. Maybe one day, the students who have crossed my path will, in turn, become a M. Désilet to someone else who needs attention, adaptability, and trust.