Ability

Driving home through hosts of sunny daffodils, I smile. My newest tutee is bright, confident, and has a place at Cambridge. He attends one of the country's finest public schools and is set to achieve the highest grade at A Level. Despite this, he wants six to eight hours of tuition a week throughout the Easter holidays. I feel torn between taking the money and telling him I don't think he needs that much extra help, but I go along to our first session with an open mind. 

As the lesson progresses, I see clearly how I can help him. By the end of the lesson, so does he. I tell him straight that I can't give him his six to eight hours, and that I don't want to waste my time or his money. He agrees. We reach a compromise. As I leave, I see respect in his face, and hope. For my part, I feel great pleasure at the chance to teach someone so bright, and that my own ability remains undiminished. We will do good work.