Childhood I’m 7. Twinkly crinkly Mrs McClintock calls me to her desk at the front of the classroom. I enter the cloud of her distinctive aroma (eau de lavender, cats and chalk). “You came first”, she says. Seeing the blank look on my face, she smiles and explains, “You came top of the class. In
A flawed perfection
The invisible barrier is apparent. I’m separated from the others, silently excluded from their interactions and conversations, their voices akin to the silence of white noise fading into the background. I am judged by the angles of my face and the scars on my skin. Their faces morphing into ones of grotesque disgust, as they
Education without limitation but innovation and imagination
The beauty of childhood is in the power of imagination. The ability to dream and see things and believe in the possibility of the impossible. I explored this special power of mine when I was a child. I believed I could do anything I wanted to do like when my parents would ask me: “What
Has Sydney J. Harris gone out of the window instead?
Please, who has the carpenter’s telephone number? I want to hire a carpenter to construct a twelve-foot, 75x75mm timber cupboard for me to keep my certificates: my basic education certificate, senior high school certificate, HND in accountancy, first degree in Business Administration, second degree in Law, short course in tropical agriculture (animal husbandry), Ghana Stock
What is the role of competition in education?
From time immemorial, competition has been a recurring decimal in this world. It has permeated through virtually all aspects of human life, be it sports, economy, politics or technology. Even among other living beings, competition is present. It means different things to different people as some see it as a mere contest, rivalry, a do-or-die
A house without books is like a room without windows
‘The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.’ – Sydney J. Harris’A house without books is like a room without windows.’ – Horace Mann Education enables a person to break free from dyed-in-the-wool opinions, and to think critically and independently. It urges the mind to look outside of the sameness, for opportunities.
That Inner Feeling is Mostly Right. Don’t Fight it!
Quote “Trust your instinct to the end, though you can render no reason” –Ralph Emerson Prelude Can you hear that tiny voice whispering to you? It is saying, ‘I bet this will be a nice article’, yet you’ve not even read quarter of the article. Generally, there is always a tiny voice that resonates in
Through the looking-glass
“The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.” – Sydney J. Harris. Discuss. I believe that education can offer you freedom, a heightened sense of awareness, the opportunity to elevate yourself, and the opportunity to reflect. Connections between these positive ramifications and the symbol of the window could certainly be made. And
Students and online social networks
I am sitting in a lecture on investment and for the first 10 minutes everyone is paying rapt attention. 30 minutes into the lecture, no one seems to be paying attention. The speaker goes on and on talking about the do’s and don’ts of investment, but everyone else seems to be engrossed with something on
Making the enjoyment of the right to education a feasible dream in Nigeria
Many policymakers in Nigeria, whenever engaged in a discourse on education in Nigeria, do assert with the echelon of confidence, that the right to education is an enjoyable fundamental right in Nigeria. Indeed, there exists many substantive legal provisions that accord the right to education an enjoyable fundamental right status in Nigeria, such as the
Nigeria: bringing innovation to education
Ever seen a historian working in a bank or a surgeon selling in a boutique? Seeing a political scientist working as a clerk is as bizarre as having an engineering student do his industrial training (IT) in a pharmacy. I took a tricycle in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State and in a discussion
To compete is to create, innovate and win
In a world of harsh globalization, companies strive hard to develop new methods and technologies by way of continuous research and development. Businessmen work harder to establish their competitive edge on products and services over other competitors. And individuals juggle the hardest to find their own niche in order to survive and eventually succeed in
Was Sydney J. Harris Right?
The debate over the true purpose of education is as ancient as education itself. This ideological tussle has yielded many contrasting views on the purpose of education such that there is still no definitive purpose of education in the 21st century. This essay therefore, is, but a contribution to the ongoing debate vis-à-vis the assertion
Choice or “Destiny”
I don’t like what I study, a truth I find myself admitting to at least one person every single day, and if not that then it’s constantly on my mind. It always takes me a few seconds longer than it should to respond when a person decides to ask me the one question I dread
Choice or “Destiny”
I don’t like what I study, a truth I find myself admitting to at least one person every single day, and if not that then it’s constantly on my mind. It always takes me a few seconds longer than it should to respond when a person decides to ask me the one question I dread
Perception, Empathy, Gratitude
“…They would not understand why people like him who were raised well fed and watered but mired in dissatisfaction, conditioned from birth to look towards somewhere else, eternally convinced that real lives happened in that somewhere else, were now resolved to do dangerous things, illegal things, so as to leave, none of them starving, or
Do we really have a choice?
There are WINDS and Winds, just like there are TREES and Trees. Strong winds associated with gale and storm, wreak havoc and test the ability of everything that has to bear the brunt of it. Only the strongest of the Trees can withstand those winds and not get uprooted. And then there are some Trees
What is the role of competition in education?
During my secondary school life, we were made to understand that life is a race. We need to run very well so that we won’t take the last position or get trampled, and that means that we need to be very competitive in everything we do, so that we can become an outstanding student amongst
La Corrupción, Enfermedad Endémica Mundial
La corrupción es un mal endémico que solo puede curarse y evitarse mediante la educación cívica de los individuos. Éstos deben ser educados a temprana edad, en los ámbitos de socialización primaria como el colegio, los clubs deportivos o la familia para evitar esta práctica enquistada en el mundo y que hacen especial daño en
The Will to Learn Makes Learning Possible
1.0 Introduction Education is a necessary part of our life. Since birth, we strive to learn something new, find answers to all questions, and seek to know everything around us. With the lapse of time, we take the first steps on the path to knowledge, which becomes more challenging and exciting day by day. Going