Fun For Whom?

I drive my students crazy.
I know I do.
And this is why.

Student: Is this right?
Me: What do you think?
Student: I don’t know.
Me: Well, how did you get your answer?
Student: I just did what you showed me before.
Me: Ok, but what does that look like for this problem?
Student: (utterly exasperated) Why can’t you ever just say yes or no?

Me: (to myself) Because saying yes or no is the easy route and you deserve better than that from me. Because doing so discourages analytical thought and makes you dependent on the approval of others. Because this is the one thing I can do to ensure you develop confidence in your own problem solving abilities. Because this tiresome process is my gift to you; you just don’t know it yet.
 

Me: Oh, it’s much more fun this way!