Continuing Against Poverty, this story describes the struggle education world still has today against even more dangerous an enemy: tradition.
The stage is a village in which the education level is still low - being able to read and write is considered "educated." There is no school in the village. The nearest one is in a neighboring village. The people still hold tradition very highly and believe in folk tales.
The story started when a couple went to a neighboring village to sell their crops. The eldest child, a girl of about ten years old, was told to help her parents. When she found out that the neighboring village has a school, she became curious. She sneaked out of her parents' sight and had a peek at what was being done in the classroom.
Apparently, she was interested in learning and told her parents that she wanted to go to school on their way home. Her parents were furious. Her father said that for centuries, everyone in their village could live happily without going to school. According to him, the fact that a girl from the village went to school would only invite demons and evil spirits to the village. Then, she got beaten up at home.
Somehow, a reporter heard about this and decided to investigate. His team went to the village and interviewed the people in the village. This was how I could watch this from television. Eventually, the girl was permitted to go to school, only after the teacher from the school, helped by a local government officer, convinced not only the girl's parents, but all adults in the village as well, the absurdity of their belief.
Looking at this girl's will to study, shouldn't we realise that we have much
smoother a path of education in front of us? Why are we afraid of the hard work
given to us as students?
The education world has enough trouble, so why should we give it more difficulties?
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Any follow-ups, comments or objections to my view?
Contact me: at comp dot nus dot edu dot sg with dennyisk before the at Last edited: Friday, 15 June 2001 |
The material published on this Web page is personal, and is not endorsed by
or the responsibility of the National University of Singapore.
The story was aired by CCTV (China Central Television) in the week 3 - 9 June 2001. I could not re-tell the whole story with 100% accuracy as I only heard it once. However, the material I wrote are correct as far as I know. |