Splinter did not know what to do. He had been teaching for a number of years, ever since the young ones had been about five, he been teaching them their letters, and number, basic reading writing and math. He had scrounged for material with single-minded intensity. He tried his best to keep one step of them, so that he would know how to teach them, essentially becoming a student as must as a teacher. He did all he knew how to.
But the fact is he was not a teacher. He was not even a very good student when he went to school, save in the art of ninjutsu. In the subject of Ninjutsu, and the disciplines that encompasses, he is nothing short of a master. It does help him teach the turtles other subjects that are connected to it, meditation, the language of japanese, both in written and spoken form, meditation, and, especially for Raphael and Michelangelo, counting, when in the form of back flips.
But not being interested in more scholastic endeavors, he had that much of a harder time teaching them to the youngsters he found himself raising. Especially to as thirsty a mind as Donatello proved to be. Now, the tenth year is about to began, and the students, all of them have areas of study that are surprising the teacher, in one area or another.
Leonardo's grasp of history is flawless, and he now sometimes corrects Splinter on some of the dates and names. He does so respectfully, and it still does not happen as often as it could, but Splinter is starting to feel like that has less to do with Leonardo's knowledge, and more to do with his student's respect for his master. He simply didn't seem to feel right about correcting his teacher, even when he was sure of the answer.
Raphael's skills with math and reading is advancing rapidly, more than he can keep up with. He always was able to do math in his head, it was a matter of showing the work that had him frustrated, but now he's conjuring algebra with ease, and that was as far as Splinter got, or anyway, as far as he remembered now. And math was something Splinter struggled with. And unlike Leo, Raphael has no problem correcting Splinter, or worrying if his actions are disrespectful or not.
Michelangelo struggles with academics as well as Splinter. In some areas, like science and math, he's still pretty low for his age, or so Splinter guesses. But in creative subjects, he comes into his own. Splinter has a very hard time finding art supplies, but Michelangelo's skills are far outstripping his materials at hand. He can take bits of dry paint on cast-off cans, and transform it into a skillfully crafted watercolor. He makes his own paper, and charcoal pencils. His reports, while often lacking in facts or proof, are often a wonder in creative writing. And his cooking rose to where he had taken over the role of family chef.
If the other three are a struggle to teach, it's nothing compared to the challenges awaiting anyone who dares try to teach Donatello. Splinter had nothing but materials and general guidance to offer since Donatello was seven. He was trying to figure out algebra and Trig by five, and reading 'War and Peace' when he was six. He made his own periodic table when he was seven, and had gotten the first fridge to work around the same time. He absorbs everything from books and conversations, and has shown to have a photographic memory of all he read or observed. Many times, Splinter had itched to have this most promising of student's I.Q. tested, but how does one test the I.Q. of a mutant turtle?
He had been scrounging in one of his favorite junk yards, this one seemed be a dumping ground for several schools for there was always a bunch of textbooks here, when he stumbled on a number of book all about homeschooling. Among them he also found a paper, announcing the arrival of a writing event that happens annually. The next day, when he gotten his students together, what he said surprised them.
"My sons, I am afraid I have no more to teach you. Instead, we will start teaching each other. I trust you will not use this time to slack in your studies, however. But each of you will more or less arrange your studies as you will see fit."
Leo raised his hand, causing the old rat to pause, and after a moment, nod to him to let him speak. "But, who will give us our grades?" He asked, sounding worried.
"We will grade our projects together. In this way, I will be guide still, and be able to encourage all of you to continue to put forth your best effort."
"And our, I mean, we can study whatever we want?" Raph asked in disbelieving tones, not even bothering to raise his hand as Leo did.
"Yes, for the most part." Splinter nodded, his ears going back slightly at the oversight. "But I would like for you to still put some of your time toward writing, reading and mathematics."
"Oh, man." He heard Mikoangelo sigh dejectedly.
He hid a faint, fond smile, and added, as though he didn't hear. "Of course these three can be worked into your schedule in any way you choose. For example. You read a recipe that you want to try for lunch one day. That is reading. You decide to copy it so you will not lose it, that's writing. And you work out all the percentages and the measurements in the use of that recipe, then that is math. I hope that will be found helpful." And he warmed at the brilliant smile that flashed over his youngest's face.
"So, we will do whatever we want to do, but we also have to clear it with you." Donatello said, in a slow, thoughtful way, as though he was working his way through a word problem. "But, what if what we decide to do is not what you feel is what we should do? Are there any guidelines we need to be following? Are there any subjects you can still teach us? How will this look like?"
"Excellent questions, all of them, and one I will more or less show you rather than tell you right now. You see, I am learning how this will be with you. I too will be putting myself into the role of student to you. There are some subjects that each of you proved you could teach me, if you so choose. And in those areas, I will learn from you. However there are some subject from each of you, that I will continue to teach. But I would like you to tell me how best I can teach you, just as I will tell you how best you can teach me. In this way, we shall learn the most, and be the most productive for the majority of the family."
"Cool! When can we start?" Raphael exclaimed.
"We are starting right now." Splinter said calmly, as he sat down in front of them on the floor. "This is not going to affect our lessons in Ninjutsu, I want that to be understood. When we are in the dojo, I am Master and you are the pupils. Am I clear?"
A weak series of "Hai, sensei" Followed this announcement, and again Splinter fought the urge to smile at the expressions on their young faces.
"So, what do we do now?" Mikey asked, frowning in puzzlement.
"We plan out what we will focus on this month. I will start by saying that I wish for Leonardo to aid me in memorizing the various dynasties of China, starting with the first this month." Splinter
began, but was cut off by a startled Leo. "You want me to teach you?"
"Yes, and you are the best at memorizing historical facts."
"you mean better than the geek here?" Raph asked, jerking a thumb in Donnie's directing and earning an indignant "Hey!" From the person in question.
"In history, I am forced to say yes. Although he is about a grade or so lower, and I suspect it is mainly because he is not as interested as he could be." Splinter began, only to be cut off again, this time by an indignant Donatello. "I can learn history if I want to!"
"Then you may follow my lesson if you want, or you may work with Leonardo in a branch that would be better suited to your interests." Splinter said, giving him a look that plainly said he would not have such rudeness.
"Hai, sensei." Donatello sighed, taking the non verbal reproof meekly enough.
Oh, does that mean I can teach something?" Mikey yelled excitedly, waving his arm around like a crazy cartoon character. "Can I? Please? Pleasepleaseplease!"
"You are teaching us something right now." Splinter nodded, smiling gently, well pleased by his youngest's enthusiasm.
"What? Really? What is it?"
"How to be happy and excited about what is happening, no matter how disagreeable it might be. And I would be disappointed if you did not teach us what you can of art, and creative writing."
"Oh, yeah? Oh ohohohoh! Can I cook teaching? I mean can I teach cooking?" Mikey asked, little stars shining in his eyes.
"If you can actually find someone to teach." Raph scoffed. "I don't wanna learn no sissy cooking."
"I'll learn. I'll be happy to." Leo began, but the others didn't let him finish.
"No."
"No way, Leo!"
"Not a chance. I'm still fixing the toaster from last time!"
"I think Leo, that while it would be wise to learn some basic skills, your talents might...lie elsewhere." Splinter said tactfully, seeing his eldest sons mournful expression.
"Start with not putting a fork in the toaster to make the bread come out faster." Don griped. "Leo you could have been killed."
"I said sorry, didn't I? I sad it a thousand times!"
"No you didn't. It was only forty-two times."
The other three looked at him in disbelief. Donnie shrugged. "What? I counted."
"You are such a little sh….er, know it all." raph said, glancing quickly at Spinter before changing a word halfway in. Splinter noticed the ten-year old hesitation, and raised an eyebrow.
"Well, at least I won't be expected to teach. Raph added with a shrug."
"You might have more to offer the other than anyone. Save Donatello." Splinter said kindly, laying a warm fuzzy hand on a smaller shoulder.
"Huh? Whatcha mean?"
"You can forage better than any of the others. YOu have more knowledge of exercising and fitness than anyone here, save me. And your math and logic skills are second only to Donatello. You are good with your hands, and I believe you have a lot to teach your brothers in being observant. I only hope that you will learn from your brothers on the fine art of controlling your temper, and you will find you have a vast treasure of skills that you can share with your brothers in turn."
Raphael didn't say anything. He quickly hid the proud smile that kept trying to form over lips that lately lost their smile, but the proud look in his eyes at the praise didn't die out nearly as fast.
"What about me?" Donnie asked, looking at Sensei with a wistful expression in his brown eyes. "Do I have anything I can teach?"
"Do you have anything to teach?" Raph broke in indignantly, cutting off whatever Splinter was about to say. "Are you freaking kidding me?"
"Raphael! Language."
"Freaking's not the same as...Okay, okay!" As dark eyes stared into green ones, growing smaller and smaller. "Just saying. He gots a lot to teach. He's the smartest one here!"
"Yeah! He can do mad chymistry stuff! I hope he can teach me to make stink bombs….Er, for theory. Not making for pranks or anything of course." Mikey added, with a sheepish grin at the looks his brothers and father was giving him.
"Why waste time learning stink bombs?" Raph snorted. "We live in a sewer!"
'Hmmm...good point." Mikey pondered that for a second, then added brightly. "Maybe he can show us how to make unstink bombs!"
Splinter caught Leo and Raph glance at each other with eye ridge raised. "I think you mean air fresheners?" Leo asked at last.
"Yeah, that's it. But unstink bombs sounds cooler."
"So, I think we have an idea of what we need to get started. Tomorrow, we will forage for supplies. Each of you will pick a different location, and it will be a training in stealth. Am I clear? No noise, no contact with humans, only in the shadows. The slightest hint of danger, and you get underground as fast as you can. Today, we go over our lesson plans. Then you show me, and I will let you know if it is sufficiently...challenging without being overwhelming."
"Hai, Sensei."
"Very well."
"yeah, okay."
"You da boss, Splinta."
"Also, I have an experiment that I want all of us to try, with the start of November."
"What is that, Master Splinter?"
"The humans above call it Nanowrimo."