Teachers truly are angels in disguise. Apart from educating students, teachers bestow upon us values in life like kindness and compassion. For many of us, they eventually become our role models.
One such teacher, who has set an example of compassion recently, is Ramata Sissoko Cissé, a Biology professor from Georgia Gwinnett College. When one of her students could not find a babysitter for her baby, the kind professor volunteered to carry the baby on her back for three long hours so that her student could take notes during the lecture.
The student called her night before the lecture and informed her that her baby wasn’t doing well and she’ll have to bring the baby to Ramata’s class the next day. Ramata instantly allowed the student to get her baby along, reports CNN.
“For her to trust me made me feel like I had to help,” Cissé said. “It’s like a moral responsibility.”
But during the lecture, the child could hardly sit still so she asked her student to her hand the baby. “I said, ‘Hand me the baby,'” she told CNN.
But it was difficult for Cissé to carry the baby in her arms while writing notes for her students on the whiteboard, so she picked up a lab coat and tied the baby on her back.
The baby also helped students learn a few new things. A student asked what made the baby stay so calm and relaxed on her back to which Cissé explained that her body temperature gave a warm touch to the baby to relax and sleep. Later when the baby was hungry and the milk in the bottle was cold, Cisse explained that warming up the milk will help the metabolism of the baby’s body.
She also elaborated on the concepts related to the nervous system, brain function and metabolism referring to the baby in the class.
“I teach because they need to be prepared for life”, Cissé said. She student e-mailed her after class to thank her, and she wrote back, “You’re welcome, I’ll always be there for you.” And the student replied, “I know.”
“Love and compassion are part of the philosophy of my classroom. I’m hoping they can spread love, take it to other people who need it,” Cissé further added.