How Pinocchio Helped Him
by Lyna Heaton
In my second year teaching at a Hillsdale classical school, I received a student right before we started reading Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. Based on my experience the year prior, I knew this novel and the discussions we would have would be an excellent opportunity for the student to understand classical education, our school, the classroom, and my expectations. What I did not know was how much this story would affect him.
For the first few days, the student was quiet and attentive, but by the end of the week, I walked into the cafeteria to a crying student, a disappointed lunch monitor, and my new student with his head hanging low. My new student had indulged himself in someone else’s lunch. Impulsive behaviors like these occurred multiple times over his first two weeks.
As time went on, our daily literature lessons became more meaningful to my new student. He gained insight into the leading character and all the trials and tribulations he put himself through. Our discussions revolved around our virtues and other outcomes, and all my students started to become highly upset with Pinocchio’s decisions and could foresee the destructive consequences to come. The students that school year were more passionate about the story, and my conclusion was that they were also witnessing a classmate dealing with the same feelings and lack of virtue as Pinocchio.
As I read the last chapter, my new student raised his hand and asked if he could say something to me. I could tell he had something pressing to say, so I obliged. He stood up, turned around, looked at his chair, and pointed at it with his whole hand. He said, “I am looking at my old bones. I can see my old self. I want to apologize again to you for my behavior, to all of you.” He explained how he couldn’t believe he would push, hit, and take. He even mentioned the first situation where he ate someone else’s lunch.
My new student made Pinocchio meaningful to himself and to all of us that school year, and this is one of my favorite moments in my teaching career. He still dealt with sporadic impulsiveness, but Pinocchio opened his eyes to his choices and those it affected. It motivated him to want to change and find ways to do better.
Thank you, Pinocchio and my new student, for a forever-lasting memory and example of why I teach at a Hillsdale classical school.