Primary school: where the academically gifted were given gold stars and extra play time as a  reward for their hard work, and the driven misbehaved claimed the rest of the teacher’s attention. If you did not fall into either of these categories, you could perhaps relate to the quiet individuals in the middle, who completed the work and followed the rules but didn’t exactly ‘shine’. I believe that pupils like these are disregarded, in the sense that it is expected they are able to get on with their work, without diverting the teacher’s attention from those who command it. For me, having been one of those pupils, I consider my feelings of stupidity and self-doubt, to stem from the lack of teacher attention and adaptation to different minds. Every child is unique, each child’s mind works in a million different ways which differ from the next. Yet still, children are grouped according to their level of academic knowledge, and with their learning based around these standards, they can begin to believe that it defines them. I was asked why I wanted to become a Primary Teacher, my simple answer is because I want to make a difference. I want to eliminate the labels of ‘smart’ and ‘stupid’ from the school environment, and society as a whole. I want to embrace the differences of each child, and ensure they can all be the best they can be, in their own ways. I want to allow children to explore their young minds and find their own strengths; and when they do, I will do everything in my power to help them flourish. Because every child deserves the right to feel valued.