There is a difference between education and experience.
Education iswhat you get from reading the small print. Experience is
what you getfrom not reading it!
But isn't it true that great learning comes from both
education andexperience? Let me tell you a parable:
A young school teacher had a dream that an angel appeared to
him andsaid, "You will be given a child who will grow up to become
a worldleader. How will you prepare her so that she will realize
herintelligence, grow in confidence, develop both her
assertiveness andsensitivity, be open-minded, yet strong in character? In
short, what kind of education will you provide that she can become one
of theworld's truly GREAT leaders?"
The young teacher awoke in a cold sweat. It had never
occurred to himbefore -- any ONE of his present or future students could be
theperson described in his dream. Was he preparing them to rise
to ANYPOSITION to which they may aspire? He thought, 'How might myteachingchange if I KNEW that one of my students were this person?'
Hegradually began to formulate a plan in his mind.
This student would need experience as well as instruction.
She wouldneed to know how to solve problems of various kinds. She
would need togrow in character as well as knowledge. She would need
self-assuranceas well as the ability to listen well and work with others.
She wouldneed to understand and appreciate the past, yet feel
optimistic aboutthe future. She would need to know the value of lifelong
learning inorder to keep a curious and active mind. She would need to
grow inunderstanding of others and become a student of the spirit.
She wouldneed to set high standards for herself and learn self
discipline, yetshe would also need love and encouragement, that she might
be filledwith love and goodness.
His teaching changed. Every young person who walked through
hisclassroom became, for him, a future world leader. He saw
each one, notas they were, but as they could be. He expected the best
from hisstudents, yet tempered it with compassion. He taught each
one asif the future of the world depended on his instruction.
After many years, a woman he knew rose to a position of
worldprominence. He realized that she must surely have been the
girldescribed in his dream. Only she was not one of his
students, butrather his daughter. For of all the various teachers in her
life, herfather was the best.
I've heard it said that "Children are living messages we
send to atime and place we will never see." But this isn't simply a
parableabout an unnamed school teacher. It is a parable about you
and me --whether or not we are parents or even teachers. And the
story, OURstory, actually begins like this:
"You will be given a child who will grow up to become...."
You finishthe sentence. If not a world leader, then a superb father?
Anexcellentteacher? A gifted healer? An innovative problem
solver? Aninspiring artist? A generous philanthropist?
Where and how you will encounter this child is a mystery.
But believethat one child's future may depend upon influence only you
canprovide, and something remarkable will happen. For no young
personwill ever be ordinary to you again. And you will never be
the same.
