By
Per Jespersen
Luke is writing a letter to his former class teacher:
Dear Mr. Hansson,
I do not know whether you remember me, but I joined
your class for seven years. You were a marvellous teacher, although you often
got mad at us, because we talked too much. Well, we did. But there was a reason
for that: Your philosophy lessons, which were gorgeous, allowed us to discuss
things, and you were not at all satisfied, when we did not participate. You
opened our minds through the questions you raised in class. And you did not
even use any books. How could you be so prepared?
Well, you might wonder what happened to all the
students you have had as a teacher. I’m here at the university, studying social
science. You would not believe that, would you? I was eleven before I could
read, but you never forced me. You just waited until I was ready. Thank you for
that. Now I read faster than anybody else here at this university.
Last week our class here visited a kindergarten in the
city to see how they socialized and what the leader did for teaching the kids
how important it is to listen to other people. Well, it was not a good day,
because the leader did not allow any of the children to do things she had not
recognized at beforehand.
This made me think of you. Do you remember the lesson
we once had, in which you introduced the subject fatalism? Maybe you do not –
but I did that day. Fatalism for me is to give up and do nothing because everything
is done for you, and you can only wait for what destiny will do to you. I know
that many people see Life that way, but there is something in me, which wants
to fight against that.
When the leader of the kindergarten pushed the kids in
her direction – well, she sort of tried to fight against the fatalism she has
inside. I guess she dared not look into the spiritual emptiness she has inside.
Am I too tough now? Well, I still think that making rules, which have to be
followed for the sake of rules is a fence you build around yourself to protect
yourself against fatalism.
But it takes the freedom away from the children. And
as I see it: teaching is there to give kids the freedom to feel comfortable
with themselves and from that shelf you can blossom and make your own thoughts
roll as they want. As a whole: this must be the heart of all education. It is
not only transmission of knowledge. Knowledge comes second. First comes your
own confidence with the one you are. Mr. Hansson, you taught us that – in your
own special way. And I am very thankful for that, but as you might know: it
causes some problems, and you get very vulnerable when you see things this way.
Is it too much to say, that you talked to our souls in
these lessons of yours. Or that you touched our subconscious. This is very
important. I saw on these sweet little kids in the kindergarten how their souls
crumbled and I could almost hear them say: you are worth nothing. The teacher
does not like me. I am worth nothing.
I do wonder why teachers cannot see that. I think I
can see it the kid’s eyes – they get a little bit gray, and as the eyes are the
mirror of our souls, I understood a whole lot.
But I go on with my studies, knowing that it will
cause me a lot of problems. But it will also give me bunches of joy and
happiness. I do think that you showed us what Life really is, without giving us
any rules to find our own way. You made us find it ourselves, and you did not
interfere, but followed each of us on our way.
How did you get the spiritual powers to do that? It is
still strange for me, that you could do it. I see it as a sort of magic. Maybe
education should be more magic, than it is. The more modern the world grows,
the more we build education on logics, which I see as a fence you plant around
your garden to prevent other views to come in. They would disturb you and the
false peace you have found within yourself.
Mr. Hansson, take this as a letter written with deep
thanks for what you did for us. I hope you will be appreciated one day.
Happy wishes
Luke
Questions for discussion in class:
1) What does Peter want to tell his old teacher?
2) Do you agree with his views on education?
3) Can education take the freedom away from the students?
4) Do we really need that “soulish freedom”?
5) The Brazilian philosopher Paulo Freire talked about
freedom as a necessity for children. Education in his view was the only way to
freedom. What do you think?
6) Is our schooling system wrong as it is? If you mean
yes, please discuss how you would change it.
7) Is education transmission of knowledge, up-bringing,
or--?
8) Imagine that school has just been invented, and you
are the one to organize the first school in the world. How would you do it. Work
this out in groups and discuss your results.
9) Have you ever met a teacher like Mr. Hansson?
10)
The question about
education is deep down this question: do children belong to society or their
families? Discuss!!