Miracle of Education: 12 Ways to Raise an Ordinary Child into a Genius

Author: Cui Huafang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: 2. The "Underachiever" Who Was Looked Down Upon
If I see farther than others, it is because I stand on the shoulders of giants. —Newton
Among Newton's relatives, apart from his elderly grandmother and his remarried mother, there was also an uncle. His name was William Isaac, a graduate of Cambridge University and a pastor. William had always been concerned about the poor little Newton, initially worrying that the child wouldn’t survive and focusing more on his health. William dared not hope that this frail premature baby would possess any genius, merely wishing that Newton could be like him—knowledgeable and cultured. Later, William subconsciously sensed something unique in Newton’s quiet and thoughtful nature.
Newton had reached school age, and after William’s persuasion, he was sent to a nearby elementary school for early schooling. Newton was accustomed to thinking alone and engaging in activities that interested him. Upon entering school, the teachers were not as kind as he had imagined. Instead, they carried a ruler and tapped the blackboard and desks frequently, creating an atmosphere of fear. Newton was deeply disappointed with school and grew weary of the lessons.
One day, during an arithmetic class, the teacher suddenly asked Newton, "Newton, what is 4 plus 5?" Newton was lost in his own thoughts when the question came out of the blue, and for a moment, he was dazed. After a while, he hesitantly answered in a trembling voice, "9." "Are you sure it’s 9?" the teacher asked, striking the desk with the ruler. Hearing the sound of the ruler, Newton grew nervous and quickly corrected himself, "It’s 8." "What is it then?" the teacher demanded, furious. Newton stood frozen, unable to speak. "You idiot!" the teacher cursed.
Later, the classmates gave Newton the nickname "Idiot Newton." Sometimes, these children would deliberately walk up to him and shout, "Idiot Newton, what’s 4 plus 5?" Each time, Newton felt awkward. He wanted to drop out of school, but William always comforted him, urging him to stay for the time being. William often visited the school to see Newton and tell him about the benefits of education. Under his uncle’s persuasion, Newton reluctantly stayed in school. However, with no interest in learning, Newton consistently ranked among the bottom students. William was deeply dissatisfied.
To cultivate Newton’s interest in studying, William frequently bought him study supplies and extracurricular reading materials. Whenever he had free time, William would take Newton to the farm to show him the outside world. With his uncle’s guidance, Newton began to develop some interest in reading. William then bought him science books, providing targeted guidance. These books covered mathematics, biology, and an history of science. He hoped that reading these books might spark Newton’s interest in scientific knowledge.
Later, Newton’s success proved William’s judgment correct. It was these scientific books that inspired and nurtured Newton’s interest in scientific research. After several years of schooling, Newton graduated from elementary school with poor grades. But at that time,