Teachers: Their love conquers all
MENA JEYARAM Subang Jaya, Selangor
One group wrote a thank-you note and another group wrote: "We love you, so we love English."
I learnt something from teaching this group: a teacher can awaken love and hatred while dealing with young minds.
This reminded me of my History teacher, who taught me about Alexander the Great.
She said: "Alexander went to war when he should have studied art and literature."
Alexander wanted to learn art and poetry, she said, but his teacher, Aristotle, who saw that as being soft, instilled anger in Alexander at the age of 13.
He challenged Alexander to go to war and bring back victory as a reward for his teacher.
So, at just 18, Alexander was obsessed with war with Asia Minor. He died at 33.
What would have become of him had he pursued his love of art and literature and lived till a ripe age?
Perhaps, he would have conquered the world with love, art, poetry and literature.
Another character my teacher identified was Asoka, an Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty, who is remembered for his fierce fight at the Battle of Kalinga in 262 BC.
Asoka, too, had wanted to learn art and literature. But the courtier, Sanakya, told him that it was not for bold and brave men.
Instead, he planted the seeds of anger and hatred in Asoka and sold him the vision of becoming a king. He was told to get rid of the only obstacle before him: his brother.
Asoka did as suggested because, perhaps, love lost to pride, power and ego. But, later, he expressed remorse.
He regretted his aggression and the suffering he caused people, especially captives, in his battles, and repented by performing acts of dharma, or service, to the people.
Or did Alexander and Asoka do what they did because of the obligation and duty to listen to and obey their teachers?
Today, as a teacher, I do not see this as simply history, but how teachers and mentors played a vital role in shaping historical events.
Being in a position to influence impressionable minds, teachers play a big role in leading them to becoming what they wish to be.
And, certainly, teachers should not plant seeds of hatred and anger in them.
They should, instead, encourage love.
This reminds me of Ariff Shah R.K. of Penang's letter, 'Love will lead the way" (NST, Aug 30).
He wrote: "Today, love is almost totally banished due to hatred. We must reawaken this love principle in us.
"Humankind should fill their hearts with love. A heart without love is a cemetery."
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