From a distance, it is easy to assume they are partial. But when you get a chance to walk in their shoes, and perhaps put on their clothes, you understand why they sometimes complain of heat when the weather appears cold.

When I was in basic school, I noticed how our class teacher gave what looked like preferential treatment to certain students in our class.

“She is showing partiality.” I said to myself while watching her from my desk.

That day she was distributing new exercise books and some snacks we knew not which good Samaritan was in the mood.

Growing up and getting the opportunity to teach in a primary school, I understood why sometimes teachers appear partial.

For instance, when you’re young, unemployed and desperate for a job, many schools in my part of the world offer low salaries to teachers.

And when you’re hired, the first few months are turbulent times because finding money to survive on till you’re paid is a major hurdle.

As a young new teacher, it can be depressing thinking of the number of years it might take you to save in order to further your education, live comfortably or marry and start a family.

In addition to all this psychological trauma, directors of schools like to overwork underpaid teachers by accepting too many pupils into a single class.

During these trying moments, parents who show concern for both their children’s education and the teacher’s welfare stand out. Some of these parents come to the school to meet with the class teacher and ask of how their children are performing. Having lived with the children at home, these parents can testify of how difficult it is for one person to handle about forty to fifty students in a class without an assistant teacher.

Before leaving, a note or envelop of money is pressed into the hand of the teacher to encourage him or her. Some parents go the extra mile of buying a teacher wine, dress, shoe or some other nice gift, especially on the last day of school.

You will agree with me that for a teacher struggling to make ends meet, such gestures mean a lot. And children of such parents will naturally receive extra attention.

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