by Anna Takai
“‘If you want me to educate everybody, give me the resources to do it,’” says Mr.Ross, an administrator of the Mount Vernon school district. Why does his teaching style rely solely on the environment? Having great conditions, with plentiful resources is vital, but doesn’t the heart matter first? Many people in developed countries nowadays depend on their abundant resources and tend to forget how grateful they should be.
Take education as an example. From elementary to high school, I’m sure many people have felt a disliking towards going to school, at least once. Sleep would always seem more satisfying than going to school in the morning. It was the same for me, as I was born and raised in the suburban enclaves. However, there are children in some areas, who may not have the supplies that we do but are still eager to acquire knowledge. Three years ago, as a school program, I had the opportunity to visit Cambodia, to teach Cambodian children basic English. I was astounded by the children’s willingness to learn and their fast ability to comprehend information. They were listening to my every word with their eyes wide open. Although it was evident that the school lacked the necessary elements for learning, the children in Cambodia are keen to learn and are growing faster than children in developed nations elsewhere. According to start school later, approximately 20 to 30% of high school students in the US fall asleep in school each day. Does this attitude towards education look like they are willing to learn? While developed countries are considered rich in physical terms, people in developing countries, like Cambodia, can feel thankful for what they obtain due to their scarcity. If developing countries start recognizing the importance of appreciation, they may be the most wealthy. “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched-they much be felt with the heart.” This famous quote by Helen Keller indicates the importance of the human soul. If one doesn’t have the will to do something, they will never prosper.
Through my experience in teaching Cambodian children, I learned how much gratitude is necessary not just for education, but also in living our daily lives. To shape one’s gratitude towards education, failing to provide too many supplies for learning is the key to developing true educators and building more open-minded and willing students. In other words, children without the fundamental resources are likely to have the heart, while those with abundant supplies seem to lack it. Realizing how fortunate we are leads to having a pure heart, and is the path to success.
Sources: https://countryeconomy.com/gdp/cambodia
https://www.startschoollater.net/wake-up-calls-fast-facts.html#:~:text=