An interesting story in the Guardian suggests that Nobel Prize winner Sir John Gurdon was not the best student and the teacher had entirely different perception of the pupil.
According to his Eton schoolmaster, the 15-year-old Gurdon did not stand out as a potential scientist. Writing in 2006, Gurdon quoted a school report as saying: "I believe Gurdon has ideas about becoming a scientist; on his present showing this is quite ridiculous; if he can't learn simple biological facts, he would have no chance of doing the work of a specialist, and it would be a sheer waste of time, both on his part and of those who would have to teach him."
That year, Gurdon scored the lowest mark for biology in his year at Eton. "Out of 250 people, to come bottom of the bottom form is quite something, and in a way the most remarkable achievement I could have been said to make," he said.
A negative report by a teacher is not end of the world. And I can share many stories from Kabirwala where students have performed well against the odds.
