[etni] korczak quote of the week
- From: "avi tsur" <tsuravi@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 29 Apr 2004 18:20:48 +0000
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Together with children who are merely sullied, we also meet children who are
crippled and injured; there are those kinds of wounds that leave no scars,
that heal themselves under a clean dressing. The healing of lacerated wounds
however takes longer; they leave painful scars; they shouldn't be irritated.
Sores and ulcers require greater attention and patience.
That folk proverb says: "A healing body." One would like to add "and soul."
How many scratches and contagions are there in schools and nurseries, how
many temptations and troublesome whispers; and what a lot of fleeting and
innocent activity. We need not have fear of dangerous epidemics where the
atmosphere of the school is healthy, where there is plenty of fresh air and
sunlight.
How wisely, gradually, and wonderfully does the process of recovery take
place! How many wonderous secrets are concealed in the blood, in body
secretions and tissues! How every disturbed function and damaged organ
strives to regain normalcy, to be back on track! How many marvels are there
in the growth of plants and in man, in the heart and brain, in the breathing
mechanism! At the faintest emotion or exertion and the heart beats faster,
the pulse quickens.
The child's spirit has this same power and endurance. There exist both a
moral balance as well as an alertness of the conscience. It isn't true that
children are easily infected.
Correctly, though late unfortunately, pedagogy found its way into school
programs. Without understanding the harmony of the body, its impossible to
acquire respect for the mysteries of healing.
A botched diagnosis lumps together all kinds of children ? the agile,
ambitious, critical ? all awkward but clean and healthy ? with the
resentful,sullen, and distrustful ? debased, tempted, frivolous, meekly
following bad examples. An inexperienced, careless, and shallow observation
mixes them all together and equates them erroneously with the fewer criminal
and bad types.
I reach for the greatest understanding, the most difficult enlightenment.
Patient and sympathetic know-how are needed to deal with offenses and
misdemeanors; transgressors need love. Their angry rebellion is justified.
One has to feel sorry for an easy virtue, measure up to the solitary, damned
offense. When, if not now, will he receive the flower of a smile?
The Child's Right to Respect
Avi Tsur
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