Nickels Apr 2018

Greetings and much love from Tanzania!

On a Friday afternoon in February, a quotation from John Ruskin was emailed to Rafiki headmasters with a view to inspiring the education staff and spurring conversation. The email was received and the quotation was duly posted in every school building at Rafiki Tanzania. It read:

The entire object of true education is to make people not merely to do the right things, but to enjoy them; not merely industrious, but to love industry; not merely learned, but to love knowledge; not merely pure, but to love purity; not merely just, but to hunger and thirst after justice.

Soon teachers of three-year-olds to teens were discussing this premise and considering exactly how such a tall order may be filled. Two months later the truth and difficulty of those words continue to engage and challenge passersby.

During the second week of the Easter break, our Class 7 students returned to school to take a practice exam that was required by the government. The emphasis on standardized testing that is the norm in so many countries today runs counter to the ideal of the student as a lover of knowledge, purity, and justice. Instead it tends to create fear in everyone involved and to reduce the entire educational journey down to a number. 

The practice test could not be avoided, but after it was over, another educational activity began. With curiosity piqued by the abundance of birds seen through the windows of the exam room, nine students set out with field guides in hand to identify birds on our campus. A change in season and the field work surrounding our Village have attracted a variety of species. The budding ornithologists industriously searched their books to be certain of each ID. They read descriptions carefully to be sure that the habitat and markings were right. They marveled at how each bird is specially designed for its diet and environment. Their love for knowledge grew. Their capacity for glorifying God is being stretched.

We are grateful for your support as we participate in this ministry.