As a senior in high school, I experienced a class with a teacher who had a great impact on my life.Chanler, a geography teacher at Cypress Creek High School, showed me the side of him that led me to believe in Machiavelli's novel, "Qualities of a price." Although geography seemed to be one of my dull classes, the influence Mr.Chanler had on my life was tremendous. He seemed to be willing to go any length to make sure that his students succeed. Mr.Chanler used Machiavelli's advice, "the ends justify the means," by doing anything in his power to instill knowledge into students. He turned Machiavelli's intriguing principles, generosity, fear, and appearances, into modern day perspectives.
"Generosity used in such a manner as to give you a reputation for it will harm you," (Jacobus, 41). Mr.Chanler portrayed this principle by the policies he used for his assignments. In the previous years, teachers would over look the late policy, and the policy for making up tests. This would make us feel as if we could get by with anything, and it soon turned into not turning in assignments at all. Every morning during second period, Mr.Chanler would walk into the classroom and expect for all of our homework to be on his desk. If anyone tried to put their previous assignments on his desk after he had started class, he would hand it right back to them. By doing this, he was only rewarding the few, or the kids that had enough initiative to be prepared. By the end of the year the class was constantly striving, and had learned the importance of punctuality. At times Mr.Chanler would seem to be one of my enemies. By using Machiavelli's advice on generosity, he would avoid generosity to some point. He knew that no matter how much he wasn't giving in, the end would justify all that he had done. .
Machiavelli points out that it is better to be feared than to be love.
