Ubuntu

If I ever learned anything as a teacher it was the art of respect. Ever student given to me to encourage and help them in those things that might be useful to them in their future lives was worthy of my respect.

I had watched some fellow teachers who acted as if education would be a great job if they did not have to deal with teenagers. The school was a lovely place to be when there were no students present. They treated students as if they were an encumbrance that had to be put up with. 

I saw education as a sharing process. I would share with them the knowledge I had gained over my years and they, in turn, would teach me the ways of youth that had changed so much since I was their age. In the process, we grew together and respected each other. Maybe this was why I enjoyed teaching.

A group of college students had decided that the practical part of their university course would be fulfilled by educating the children of a tribal people. 

The children lived a village located on a hill. The Tribal people had inhabited the hill and the surrounding areas for centuries. The villagers and children were illiterate and knew nothing about education. 

Hence, that particular village was chosen. 

The student group reached the top of the hill and were met by a couple of men from the village.  The tribes lived happily with no use of equipment, modern facilities, etc. 

They were kind and welcoming and made the students feel at home.

They explained to the head of the village about their intention to educate the children. 

The chief, in turn, told the villagers and they seemed happy to hear about it. 

The next day students gathered the children and created a tuition schedule for teaching them. 

However, the students pushed themselves very hard to motivate them and initiate their education. They did many tricks, but only a few kids responded well. 

One student gave one chocolate to every child. The children loved the chocolate, they had never eaten chocolate before. 

Seeing this the students announced a competition. They placed a box full of chocolates near a tree, at a distance of 200 meters. They planned to conduct a race to motivate the children. 

The children were asked to stand in order. 

One of the students announced that the child who runs fast and reaches first would get all chocolates.

Another student then prepared them for the race and said, "Ready steady go."

But what happened then was a pure bliss! The students were quite astonished and moved by the act of the children. 

All children held the hands of the child who stood next to them. They ran towards the chocolate box holding each other hands. 

There was only one winner and it was all the children. They all sat happily sharing the chocolates among them. 

One of the students asked the tribal children, to explain why they had acted in such a way?  

One of them replied, "UBUNTU!"

They went to the chief and asked him to explain to them the meaning of UBUNTU

He told them that it  meant,  "When others are sad, how can you stay happy?"

Translated it meant,  "We represent what I am!" 

The students were touched! 

Who was it that day was the educators and who were the educated?

We are never too old to learn from others and the age of the educator can be any age. Everday is a school day.

Have a wonderful day of learning. 

"If you google UBUNTU you will see it is the name of an operating system for computers. "