REFLECT Dream and be inspired (Pocket Edition)

REFLECT is the second of a two-part compilation of articles. PONDER is the first. The central theme running through both books is an emphasis on child-centred education. We must teach our children to think critically and do all we can to help them to think creatively and independently. When we ponder on how many children, teenagers in particular, are subdued and brought down in their thinking and behaviour by their peers we may be led to reflect on the moral to be learned from the story of “The bucket of crabs”

Roseanna, an elderly lady, a retired teacher, was out walking in the countryside one day. As she emerged from the tree-lined pathway that led to a river-walk that brought her to the seaside, she noticed that the water in the river was moving very fast. The river was tidal for a kilometre up from the sea. Listening to the soothing sound of the river, she strolled with its flow towards the seaside. Nearing the mouth of the river she saw a gentleman on the river-bank where she was passing. He was fishing for crabs. He had a bucket beside him, in which there was a number of crabs. The crabs were climbing up on all insides of the bucket.

Rosanna informed the fisherman about the crabs climbing up the bucket and trying to escape. “All your fishing efforts could soon be in vain”, she told him. The gentleman replied. “You see my good lady I would be concerned about that if I had only one crab in the bucket but when you have a number of them there, when one crab succeeds in climbing up a bit another one will grab on to it and pull it back down. They spend all their time doing that, so I have no worries about any escapes. They will not let anyone get away. Many people begave that way too and you, as a teacher, know that more than most” he said. That is very interesting she replied and continued walking, pondering and reflecting on the moral of the story.