So a hundred student lined up
For the latest kata the Shifu
Will demonstrate
The Sensei will dance the steps
The teacher, who is standing in readiness,
Will part with his knowledge
To the benefit of the lined human bodies
And suddenly
An explosion of noise
A laughter
A scream
Utterances of word noises
Incomprehensible
Behind the door
A thousand student line broken
They shutter
They scatter
The Senpi stands alone puzzled
The teacher is lost in the empty space
The teacher sits on the floor defeated.
Lesson concludes unlearned!
February 20,2020
I have a similar classroom memory from 50 years ago–towards the end of the year our Ancient History syllabus had been completed, and the teacher asked the class for suggestions of what to do. One boy raised his hand: “Let’s all have a mass debate, sir!” The explosion of laughter emptied all the other classrooms to see what was happening in ours.