Leslie Niemann is a school teacher from Salt Lake City, Utah, who teaches year eight maths (or as the Americans would put it, eighth grade math). She’s not really a fan of Australian rock music and isn’t all that familiar with Sydney’s Sticky Fingers.
But as it happens, one of her underachieving students is obsessed with the band, who are currently in the middle of a US tour. Though obviously being in year eight precludes him from actually going to see the band perform.
Sensing an opportunity to inspire one of her students, Ms Niemann struck a deal with the student. As she recounted on Facebook in a post since shared by the band, she told the student that if he picks his grades up, she’d go to the StiFi show and get him a reward.
“I teach 8th grade math in Salt Lake City. I made a contract with one of my students that says, if he gets a C in my class, this term, then I would go to the concert and get him something little as a reward,” Ms Niemann wrote in her post.
The teacher was thinking she’d get the student “a flyer, a sticker, maybe a shirt” but when she showed up to the band’s soundcheck with her story, “the fine men of The Sticky Fingers Band” decided to do her and her student one better.
“Freddy Crabs, I hope that’s right, came up to me and I explained why I was there,” she wrote. “My student was trying to get a C in my class and their band was his motivation. Currently, he has a D+ and I was hoping to buy something little that would motivate him to get the C.”
“He was very touched by my story and said, ‘I’ll be right back.’ He came back with, what at first I thought was a tray, but later learned it was a drum slip cover (correct?), signed by all the members. They signed words of encouragement. It was wonderful.”
“They shared their own academic struggles and took this picture with me. I showed the cover to my student who began to wildly jump up and down. His sister, who was with him, began to cry. I told him it is his when he earns the C.”
“He has one week and is so close. I believe he will do it thanks to you guys. I will keep you updated. You are so amazing and now one of my favorite bands as well.” So to Ms Niemann’s Sticky Fingers-loving student, wherever you are, best of luck, champ.
