A fresh academic year is round the corner.And this is the time when parents will begin their annual ritual of going to schools,colleges and polytechnics seeking admissions for their wards.It would be appropriate to reproduce here, a letter written by the late US President,Abraham Lincoln,to the headmaster of the school where his son studies.The letter speaks for all parents anywhere and gives expression to their aspirations for what they want the heads of teaching institutions to make of their sons and daughters.
THE LETTER :
'He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just, and all men are not true.But teach him also that for every scoundrel,there is a hero;that for every selfish politician,there is a dedicated leader.Teach him that for every enemy there is a friend.It will take time,I know,but teach him if you can that a dollar earned is of far more value than five found.
Teach him to learn to lose and also to enjoy winning.Steer him away from envy.If you can,teach him the secret of quiet laughter. Let him learn early that the bullies are the easiest to lick.Teach him,if you can,the wonder of books,but also give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mysteries of birds in the sky,bees in the sun and flowers on a green hillside.In school,teach him it is far more honourable to fail than to cheat.Teach him to have faith in his own ideas even if they are wrong.
Teach him to be gentle with gentle people.To be tough with the tough.Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone is getting in the bandwagon..teach him to listen to all men..but teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth and take only the good that comes through.
Teach him,if you can how to laugh when he is sad..teach him there is no shame in tears,teach him to scoff at cynics and to beware of too much sweetness...teach him to sell his brawn and brain to the highest bidders,but never to put a price-tag on his heart and soul.Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob.. and to stand and fight if he thinks he is right.
Treat him gently,but do not cuddle him,because only the test of fire makes fine steel.Let him have the courage to be impatient..let him have the patience to be brave.Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself,because then he will always have sublime faith in mankind.This is a big order,but see what you can do..He is such a fine little fellow,my son."
THE LETTER :
'He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just, and all men are not true.But teach him also that for every scoundrel,there is a hero;that for every selfish politician,there is a dedicated leader.Teach him that for every enemy there is a friend.It will take time,I know,but teach him if you can that a dollar earned is of far more value than five found.
Teach him to learn to lose and also to enjoy winning.Steer him away from envy.If you can,teach him the secret of quiet laughter. Let him learn early that the bullies are the easiest to lick.Teach him,if you can,the wonder of books,but also give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mysteries of birds in the sky,bees in the sun and flowers on a green hillside.In school,teach him it is far more honourable to fail than to cheat.Teach him to have faith in his own ideas even if they are wrong.
Teach him to be gentle with gentle people.To be tough with the tough.Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone is getting in the bandwagon..teach him to listen to all men..but teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth and take only the good that comes through.
Teach him,if you can how to laugh when he is sad..teach him there is no shame in tears,teach him to scoff at cynics and to beware of too much sweetness...teach him to sell his brawn and brain to the highest bidders,but never to put a price-tag on his heart and soul.Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob.. and to stand and fight if he thinks he is right.
Treat him gently,but do not cuddle him,because only the test of fire makes fine steel.Let him have the courage to be impatient..let him have the patience to be brave.Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself,because then he will always have sublime faith in mankind.This is a big order,but see what you can do..He is such a fine little fellow,my son."
No comments:
Post a Comment