A king once entered a school where the master was
sitting at the desk with a rod in his hand. The children
prostrated themselve before the king but the master took no
notice. The king, greatly surprised, called him to come before him the next day. He came, prostrated himself and
made obeisance. Then the king asked him about his behaviour of yesterday and the teacher replied, “In the school
I am the king. With loss of respect discipline goes. I teach
the children loyalty to the king. If I prostrate myself as
well I lose their respect and my power over the children
which is increased if they see that I do not recognise even
the king. But here I prostrate myself.” The king greatly
approved of the teacher’s attitude.
428. A king once entered a school where the master was
sitting at the desk with a rod in his hand. The children
prostrated themselve before the king but the master took no
notice. The king, greatly surprised, called him to come before him the next day. He came, prostrated himself and
made obeisance. Then the king asked him about his behaviour of yesterday and the teacher replied, “In the school
I am the king. With loss of respect discipline goes. I teach
the children loyalty to the king. If I prostrate myself as
well I lose their respect and my power over the children
which is increased if they see that I do not recognise even
the king. But here I prostrate myself.” The king greatly
approved of the teacher’s attitude.
