My day at school (continued)

My niece is here to teach English to the kids in 3rd grade. This is a bit challenging for her, since they speak their native tongue until 4th grade. She and Grace are commissioned to start the process of learning to speak English. The kids speak Setswana, and are learning the alphabet, how to read books, and to comprehend what they read.
I observed the way they eat, some with a fork or spoon, most eat with their hands. They ate while they played on the dirt area, running playing and carrying a plate made from pewter. I saw a drink with 2 different items on this plate. I wish I could tell you what it was… unidentifiable!!
I finally got a chance to have the two classes of 3rd graders come to me, and I took them in smaller groups and taught them some things about our town and government. Thank goodness I had the teachers there to translate because this would have been a lost cause. I gave the two teachers a gift from Sister and Friends, as well as the left over pens and pencils. One group received pencils from Citizens Bank, Observer-eporter, and the Mayor’s office.
The next group I had a chance to talk about our elected officials. I had gifts from the three Commissioners Diana, Larry, and Harlan. Each gave an array of things like pens, bookmarks, or note pads. From the House of Representative Office, Brandon gave bookmarks with history and facts about our state, the State Flags and USA flags. Senator Tim Murphy gave pens and trading cards with him dressed as a Fireman. This was a cultural clash, because they have never seen a Fireman before. From the mayor’s office and the police department, they gave blue whistles with a red light on the end. I gave to another group pens from Pop a Lock, and from United Way a cute ornament in the shape of a shirt.
No matter what I gave each kid they received it with joy. Unlike some of our USA kids who say I want what Johnny got!!!
The kids had a full hour for lunch, along with a few other breaks. The schools have never experienced trouble out of the kids, because they love going to school. This was how we were in school back in the day – when the teacher or adults spoke we gave them total RESPECT. What’s happening to our youth? And how do we go back to the way it was? This level of respect and appreciation is not loss within the African cultural. I do not see any level of discord within the core of family values. We don’t need to complain about our youth, we need only to look to ourselves as the blame. We have allowed our youth to assume the parent role, while we are too busy trying to be our kid’s friend. Or we make the comment that I want to make sure my kids do not have to struggle or do with out as I did growing up.
Do you know the story about the process of the butterfly? In order for the butterfly to be created it must go thru a struggling process within the cocoon. If you try to open the cocoon to help the butterfly so they don’t have to go thru the struggle, it will die! But when you allow the butterfly to go thru the process of struggling they become equipped with all the skills needed.
It’s ok to tell our youth no sometimes, and not allowing them to do what they want when they want to do it. When allowing the youth to be raised with a little struggle, you will see a beautiful creation emerge. Think about it – I have never seen an ugly butterfly… have you???