HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012

Abraham Lincoln's Letter... Give it to your children to read

“ TRY TO GIVE MY SON THE STRENGTH NOT TO FOLLOW THE CROWD WHEN EVERONE ELSE IS DOING IT” The 16th President of United States - Abraham Lincoln's letter to his son's Teacher when his son attends school for the first time remains an all time classic. At a time when moral education is being taken lightly in schools, parents, teachers and students would benefit greatly from reading the remarkable letter, which without being didactic focuses on values. " My son Starts school today. It is all going to be strange and new to him for a while and I wish you would treat him gently." This is how Abraham Lincoln starts his letter to the school authorities. When students start school for the first time the experience could be unnerving. As in life there could be bullies in school too who could rag freshers. Therefore when students enter school for the first time teachers have to treat them with sensitivity and care so that they start feeling comfortable and settle down in school. Once they are well adjusted to the new school environment, school life can become an, " adventure" with new friends and new learning experiences. To make school life morally productive and meaningful Abraham Lincoln says, teachers have to inculcate " Faith, love and courage", in students which in the present times is easier said than done. School days are rarely forgotten even after one becomes an adult. The GOOD and the BAD remain with us. While a teacher's encouraging word could inspire us to reach great heights harsh words become scars which continue to haunt us through life. A teacher says Abraham Lincoln has to explain to the students that for every enemy there is a friend... for every scoundrel there is a hero that for every crooked politician there is a dedicated leader. Students have to be taught that, " ten cents earned is of far more value than a dollar found and that it is far more honourable to fail than to cheat" - these are lessons not just for school they are LESSONS FOR LIFE. Leaders are groomed in schools and who better than the great American President to know of this which is why he says, " Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone else is doing it. Teach him to listen to everyone but teach him also to filter all that he hears on a screen of truth and take only the good that comes through." For students the present day education system has become so stressful and competitive that even students scoring above 90% are not able to procure a seat in a reputed college of their choice. With sheer commercialism creeping into education our students have no time to stand and stare, they are losing out on, " Quiet Laughter... the mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun and flowers on a green Hill"- all gems which Abraham Lincoln says go to make a sound schooling system. We get the glimpse of a concerned parent in Abraham Lincoln when he asks his son's teacher to teach his son, " To sell his talents and brains to the highest bidder but never to put a price tag on his heart and soul, to have sublime faith in himself, because then he will always have sublime faith in mankind, in GOD." The letter more than anything else reveals the mammoth responsibility which teachers have in shaping young minds. My regret is that I read the letter now after having retired from 29 years of fruitful teaching. Had I read the letter earlier, my teaching would have taken a more poignant dimension. Let others who are still teaching benefit from the letter.