The Model Lesson

Many times in my life, I have had to stand up in front of a group of people and deliver a talk.

As an example, I was once the President of our neighborhood Civic Association. An incident arose, and I had to address a group of politicians about our difficulty with the county. It was not a friendly audience, and I wasn’t too sure I knew what I was talking about. I could have had the best argument in the world. However, their minds were already made up when I stood up to speak. It was a lesson in futility. Actually, something similar happened here in Virginia. I was just speaking then as a concerned citizen, but once again, the decision was already made before we were heard.

Sometimes, it was a prepared speech. A few years back, I presented a class on Messianic Judaism. Some people liked what I said, and others were offended. Oh well, you can’t get everyone to love you.

There was one time when I felt totally prepared and thought I had nailed this presentation. I had to give a 20-minute lesson on fire safety to a first-grade class.

This was way before computers and videos. I did have pictures and objects, though. I would present the lesson, show the proper equipment, do a little review and finish off with a picture for the kids to color and write the correct words next to the picture. The words were all printed out for them. All they had to do was match them.

I got up there, went through all of it and had a big grin on my face. The director who was observing the lesson said, “ I think we can all agree that was a great lesson. It was informative and would hold the children’s interest. But there was only one thing. For the entire lesson, you said fire DISTINGUISHER instead of EXTINGUISHER! I must have turned ten shades of red. I was so embarrassed. I also couldn’t believe I said that! He assured me I did.