Flashback: 'Then there was a teacher who saw me'
Murat Isik (2017) won the Libris prize, the Nederlandse Boekhandelpijs and De Inktaap with his novel 'Be invisible' (42). He has good memories of Jan Roof, his English teacher at SG Reigersbos, nowadays Ir. Lely Lyceum.
Picture: Fred van Diem
“The main character from 'Be Invisible' looks a bit like me. Like my protagonist, I found high school difficult. I was greatly underestimated by teachers because I was a child from the Bijlmer. In primary school I was the best in class. I excelled in language and reading. Nevertheless, I was put on Dutch tutoring within two months at VWO. That destroyed my confidence.
I chose SG Reigersbos because my sister went there. It was a better secondary school in a better neighborhood in South East. My sister was socially strong, she got along fine. But I was bullied by students. I was a loner. But I thought the tutoring was worse than being bullied. It was as if something was taken from me that I was proud of.
And then there was a teacher who saw me, he saw my talents, and he knew I could do better. His name is Jan Roof, he was my English teacher. He could be strict, but also funny. He spoke passionately about literature.
At one point in the second grade I got a 3 for an English test. There was a phase when I was lazy, I threw my hat at it. I also got bad grades for other subjects, but no teacher said anything about it. Do robbery. Normally I got eight, nines and tens for English. It was my best job. Roof came up to me and said, 'What is this? What is going on? You can do better. I want to see old Murat again soon. ' The fact that he said, "You can do better" felt like a huge motivation. I felt stimulated to do better. After that I never failed again for English. I would have been ashamed of that. I was a modest and diligent student, I think Roof had respect for that.
My novel is, among other things, an indictment of the education system. Pupils from disadvantaged neighborhoods are still too often underestimated. As a result, so much potential is lost. It has made me an activist.
Jan Roof was present at the presentation of Wees Invisible. There is also a photo of me on the wall of fame from school. They embrace me now. That will provide satisfaction, or rather reconciliation. The students of the Reigersbos also read my books. ”
Jan Roof (62)
Murat was a quiet student, but very eager to learn. I always tried to involve him. At one point when things went downhill, I asked him what was wrong. Murat always thanks me for that involvement. That is actually too much credit. I always try to approach all students positively. ”
