The Eyes

The eyes... 20 pairs of eyes are staring at me...I am standing in front of them a little bit nervous and I see interest in these eyes. This interest is different: cunning, courageous, challenging, lazy, and overwhelming. But still they came and are ready for their excursion.

These pupils have never been to the fortress before. However, they have been living in this town since they were born. And I, the teacher, should show these marvelous buildings to them and should give the love and consciousness of the greatness of their ancestors.

Unfortunately, there appears a misunderstanding with an arrangement of the guide of the fortress and we are offered just to have a walk by ourselves.

Now, these eyes become slightly faded and disappointed. And I see the common everyday eyes when they enter the classroom. Waiting for something interesting and becoming disappointed, when the teacher asks them to do usual activities. These eyes want to play, run and have fun. And do not want to read, count and write summaries. That’s why the teacher is the wizard to make these eyes glow and swallow the knowledge during the lessons. Really, during the lessons only? Let’s have fun and education out of the classroom!

So, let’s start! Hopefully, I love this place; I know the history of the town and read some pages of architecture.

- My dear pupils come on! Listen to my story, the story of big wars and great governors!

The eyes immediately become wide, round and curious. They start to run from one building, or a part of it, to me and backward, finding new unknown objects and letterings.

I look on them and wonder where they were during lessons in school. And then it begins:

- Teacher, how does this called?

- Teacher, how do people get water up the stairs?

- Teacher, why do bats sleep with the heads down?

- Teacher, why do people had different coast of arms but they lived in the same country?

- Teacher, …

These eyes are running to and out of me. So many questions, so DIFFERENT questions. And only one teacher to answer them. And no smartphone with wi-fi connection. It will have to pass at least 10 years before the Internet appears here.

And finally, the PRIZE! The benefit of this excursion. A pair of eyes asks:

- Teacher, how do you know so many things?!!

- The excursion was so amazing!

- You are a great teacher!

- You are a LIVE ENCYCLOPEDIA!

Yes. The teacher is an encyclopedia. And the audience is these wide, curious and glowing eyes – the pupils.