WEB POSTED 07-02-2001

OUR FUTURE JUST GRADUATED

Our Director of Education, Sister Shelby Muhammad, honored me greatly by selecting me to deliver the keynote address at the most recent graduation of the students at Muhammad University of Islam last Thursday. I hope I am correct in believing that the few remarks given there are worth sharing with a wider audience.

First, we must not overlook the valuable job done by the teachers, and the sacrifices required of them. We never hesitate to criticize these educators for even the smallest of faults, but I think we are lacking in readiness to fully recognize the job they are doing, often against great odds. To emphasize this, I began by telling a story of a little boy who wanted to be a teacher, while his parents wanted him to strive for the prestigious position of doctor. The precocious youngster finally made his point with the simple question, "Without teachers, where would doctors come from?"

A slanderous term which I heard repeatedly throughout my early childhood was "educated fool". Fortunately, I grew to learn that whenever that term was uttered, it was the fool that was doing the talking.

Minister Farrakhan charges us with the responsibility to both teach and train those who will accept it. They are two separate things, which may be combined for greater effect. Training involves what to do and when and how to do it. Teaching involves the most important question�WHY?

A trained hunting dog will go and get the game a hunter has shot and bring it back to the hunter�no matter how hungry he (the dog) is, because he is TRAINED! If he were EDUCATED, the hunter would never see that game, and probably the dog either, any more! The word "education" is derived from the prefix "E", which means "out" (as in "evict" and "eject"), and "DUCERE"�"to lead, draw or bring forward." The latter root is found in the term "ducts" which are designed to transport heat, air, etc.

The final point which I emphasized was that, contrary to popular usage, the term "graduate" is not synonymous with "complete". You may finish a particular course of learning, but you are never through! In laboratories, as well as some kitchens, you may find glasses, tubes or measuring cups which are referred to as "graduated." These contain a series of marks on the outside to indicate how much of a substance is contained inside.

I closed my brief remarks with the observation that, "If you gave each of these children a fish, you would feed them for a day; but if you teach them how to fish, you would feed them for a lifetime."