Sheikh Saadi (R.A.) relates that once in the course of his travels he went to the Maghrib country. There in a mosque he saw a school master who was sour faced, of uncouth speech, ill humoured, and of an irritating and niggardly nature. He behaved tyrannically with his pupils. He would strike them mercilessly, and would put their legs into the stocks. His behaviour became notorious and he was expelled from the school.
His successor was a different man altogether. He spoke only when necessary. He was sweet tempered and soft hearted. He did not beat the boys and spoke to them gently. The children were no longer afraid of the teacher.
Taking advantage of his soft manners, the children acted like demons to one another. They neglected their studies and spent most of their time in idle play. That made Sheikh Saadi say:
"If the schoolmaster happens to be lenient. The children will play leap frog in the bazar."
After some time Sheikh Saadi happened to pass by that mosque again. He was surprised to see that the first teacher who had been expelled had been restored to his post. He asked an old man the reason for such change, and the old man quoted the maxim:
"A king placed his son in a school.
Putting in his lap a silver tablet.
With the inscription in golden letters:
'The severity of a teacher is better than the love of a father' ".
