Fresh out of university and armed with a shiny new degree in child psychology, a naive young teacher was determined to test a bold behavioral experiment on her unsuspecting classroom.
Stepping up to the chalkboard, she looked out at her students and announced, “Class, I want everyone who honestly thinks they are completely stupid to stand up right now.”
A heavy, awkward silence fell over the room. The children all stared at each other, terrified to move. But after a long, agonizing minute, Little Johnny slowly pushed his chair back and stood up at the back of the class.
The young teacher sighed softly, instantly switching into her sympathetic counselor mode. “Oh, Johnny,” she said gently. “Do you really look in the mirror and believe you’re stupid?”
“Not at all, Miss,” Johnny replied with a look of pure pity. “I just hated seeing you standing up there all by yourself.”
