My name is Abed Ahmed and I teach secondary school maths at Holte School in Birmingham. Stammering since the age of 4 has made it difficult for me to communicate fluently, and the transition from primary to secondary was a very daunting experience. The fact that there were many pupils in secondary school was a daunting concept because it meant that I was more likely to be bullied about my stammer.
The worrying thing is, 5% of children in the UK stammer — and are likely go through the same experience. This is where teachers come in. We are in such powerful positions to make a difference in a child’s life and help them overcome any obstacles.
Teaching is a profession that requires you to speak the majority of the time. I was told by an ex-teacher from another school that I would really struggle due to my stammer. I believed them. However, I persisted and became a teacher. I was lucky that my motivation was supported by self-confidence, a quality which sadly not everyone possesses, especially as a younger adult. Again, this is where teachers come in; we have the opportunity to build nations and to inspire confidence in young people.
Pupils think that teachers are perfect, but we aren’t. Pupils think we are faultless and are geniuses (I’d like to think we are!). Pupils are so shocked when they find out that you are not perfect and they seem to respect you more. Never be afraid to show them who you are.
At a time when mental health awareness is on the rise, I believe this is the perfect time to be open with our pupils. They need to know that it is OKAY to NOT BE OKAY. I did this through raising awareness of stammering, something I have dealt with all my life and even today! They just love knowing something about you… that makes you human and makes pupils feel comfortable to talk about whatever they wish.
As a teacher, I decided to set up my own Stammer Support Sessions in the school I work in. I’ve been focusing on improving their confidence and making them feel better about themselves. Sessions have included drama and theatrical role-play, interview practice and tips, and advice on how to approach people.
Overall, I hope I act as a general supporting figure to give students a voice and empathise with their struggles. This is another underrated aspect of teaching: we are in such powerful positions to do MUCH more than what the curriculum asks of us. If you have a love for music, why not run your own music class in the school? If you love drawing, why not run your own art class? If you love debating, why not run your own debating society? If you love sport, why not run your own sport club? YOU can be THAT teacher, the one a child looks up to as the best person in the world, the one that pupils will always remember, even 40 years down the line. I’m sure you remember your own teachers. We have such an impact, we sometimes don’t realise it.
You may be thinking that you could never be a good teacher? To be honest with you, I’m only in my 2nd year of teaching and personally don’t think I’m the best maths teacher ever. But I know I have the support around me to make me a good teacher and I know I can get there.
Don’t let doubts put you off this wonderful career. Yes, it can be challenging, yes, there are lots of changes and yes, it might not always seem like the most attractive career. However, you can make it your own. That’s the beauty of this job. You can at times have freedom to do what you wish to help pupils (as long as it is sensible of course!). No two days are the same. But you will leave school every day knowing that you have probably made at least one pupil’s day. That’s a feeling you cannot get from any other job.
