We may have come across the following scenario before: Two brothers were raised by an alcoholic father. One grew up to be an alcoholic and when asked why, he said, “I watched my father”. The other grew up and never drunk alcohol once and when asked why, he said, “I watched my father”. They were both right. However, how they viewed their situation was very different and determined their future.
It is a similar situation to the one where we read of representatives many years ago who were sent out to Africa by a shoe company in Europe to see if there was a market for shoes in Africa. One returned and reported that no-one wore shoes there so there was no chance of getting a foot in there (pardon the pun); the other returned and reported that no-one wore shoes there so there was a massive market just waiting to be exploited there. Both were right in seeing the situation on the ground; each had a different response.
We might consider it to be the same with the classic video clip of two men walking barefoot in the bush when they came across a lion in front of them. They stood stock still then one quietly took his trainers that were tied around his neck and slowly put them on his feet, all the time looking at the lion. The other one mocked him and whispered in his ear, “They are not going to help you run faster than the lion!” “You are right,” the other replied, “But they will help me run faster than you!” Two people look at the same situation but have a different response. Both were right; one was smart!
Going back in time, in the Bible we read of the children of Israel who sent spies into Canaan to ascertain what lay ahead of them, in order to fulfil the promise that awaited them. All came back with the same report; it was a land dripping with milk and honey, a fabulous opportunity. Some, however, saw giants that currently occupied that space and believed they had no chance of succeeding; two recognised the presence of said giants, but also held on to the promise of their God.
Who is right? That is a big question. Of course, we always want to be right — especially forlorn males when relating to their wife! Remember the quote from one wife: “When I want your opinion, I will give it to you”? Or the oft-quoted, query: “If a man talks in the forest, and there is no woman around, is he still wrong?” We want to be right and usually believe we are right, while in many cases we can be right. It has to be right for us at that time for the right reason.
Henry Ford summed up much of this when he stated that, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t — you’re right.” The answer is within each of us. We need to be crystal clear, however, on this, for teenagers especially think that if they say something it is right, while modern society also has a similar view in declaring that the truth is whatever you want it to be. Wrong! We are right about our attitude, about what is within us. If we think we can do something, then there is every chance we can do it; if we think that we will never manage it, then we will not.
What do we see when we look at education? We all no doubt think we are right about it. We will no doubt believe we have the right curriculum to produce the youngsters we want and need. We will no doubt believe we have the right syllabus in the right subjects to bring about that end. We will no doubt believe we have the right trained teachers to fulfil the obligation. Does that mean we are right? May we not be like the men in the forest wondering if whatever the other party says is right?
What do we see when we look at the education for our children? Do we see obstacles or opportunities? Do we see danger or delight? It is exactly right to underline that our perspective will determine our future. The Promised Land awaits for our children; the future is opening up before their eyes. Do we look at our ‘father’ in education and decide that that is what we want or that is what we must never have? Is there a place for ‘shoes’ (or whatever we are trying to promote) in our education system or will our children never get to the Promised Land through the forest in the presence of lions while still walking barefoot? How do we see our current education? Are we right?
