Nathan Alexander is a math professor but the way he has received accolades in social media, it’s easy to see that he has a natural doctorate in empathy and human relations.
Alexander shot to fame after a photo of him holding a student’s baby while teaching in class went viral.
The baby’s father, Wayne Hayer, had brought his baby daughter Assata to class because he couldn’t find a babysitter in time.
When Hayer explained his predicament to Alexander, the professor offered to carry the Assata so that Hayer could “take good notes.” And Alexander did this without complaint throughout the whole 50 minutes he taught his class.
Speaking to Buzzfeed News, Alexander said, “I don’t have children of my own.”
“I was worried that she would start crying but it actually went perfectly. She was extremely well behaved.”
Alexander is a professor at Morehouse College which is an all-male and historically black liberal arts college located in Atlanta, Georgia.
The school produced one of its most famous graduates in the person of civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The 34-year-old Alexander had noticed that Hayer frequently left class early to look after his daughter so he told his student that he could bring Assata to class.
In an interview with CNN, Alexander said, “He works two jobs, is a full-time student, is involved in leadership programs at school and is a parent.”
“This photo serves as a reminder of what parents have to do every day and how important it is to have affordable childcare.”
Alexander bounced the baby girl up and down during class and even joked that his teaching would be enough to send her to sleep, he told Buzzfeed News.
“When she started falling asleep, I told the class ‘I guess I’m being boring right now’,” Alexander said.
When the picture of him holding the baby went viral, praises for Alexander and his teaching skills just kept pouring in.
Firda Hayer, Assata’s mother, also gave her thanks to Alexander in a Facebook post. She also thanked other social media users for their encouragement.
Alexander tweeted that he “appreciate[d] the love,” but was quoted by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as saying, “I’m not an exception. Teachers do this in their own way every day.”
Recommended Video!
“Kindergarten Teacher Couldn’t Control Her Anger And Grabs A Student By Face”