During a lunch break a couple of my colleagues and I were discussing the way some students fail to value the opportunities afforded them to gain an education. So often it seems that some give up without even trying to put forth even a modicum of effort. It can be somewhat disheartening at times.
One of the teachers said that when she was teaching high school she used to show them a clip from the movie Ever After.
" If you suffer your people to be ill-educated, and their manners corrupted from infancy, and then punish them for those crimes to which their first education disposed them, what else is to be concluded, sire, but that you first make thieves and then punish them? "
She made the point to her students that by giving students the chance to gain an education in their youth the people who support their schooling "buy in" to the philosophy of the Cinderella character in this clip. That the purpose of an education is to open up previously unknown opportunities and possibilities. And, that by investing in their future now they are hoping to avoid the "mak[ing] of thieves [just to] punish them."
I thought it was an interesting comparison to make.
I love the idea of using this video clip, it is one of my favorites from the movie and it does come right to the point. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by. I think there are so many things that can be learned and applied if only leaders are willing to make it possible and students and teachers are willing to take the time and make the effort.
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