When schools were better than homes

Modern parents are complaining that their children are not as motivated in school as they used to be. This is despite rising unemployment. Even more perplexing is that children from poor backgrounds are no longer as motivated to improve their lives as they used to be — talk to any teacher or lecturer.

What happened?

One hypothesis is that our homes are nowadays better than schools. In?the past, children watched TV for the first time in school, and got running?water and other modern amenities only in school. That served as an?incentive to study hard. Today, our homes are better than schools?and children would rather spend more time around LED TVs, DVD players,?better bathrooms, food, beds, etc.

Mr MK Wagitu, the former principal of Alliance High School, used to ask why students burn dormitories when there is a strike. It?could be a coded message that they do not like their dorm rooms and?would rather be home. And why not? Unlike in the past, most homes are?places to idle around; no cows to milk, shambas to tend or?firewood and water to fetch.

This is the crisis of our generation; how do we motivate young?people when the former motivators have ceased to be motivators. In the?past, students aspired to get cars, good clothes and better amenities, but they now find these were already in their homes even before they were born.

Wrong approach

Some parents have taken the wrong approach; they are working for their children, making matters worse. Parents come to universities to check?their children’s progress. One parent even told me that he has more time to do so now that he is retired.

Parents house their adult children even after they get a job and?are very happy arranging weddings for them. They will invite you to a?wedding for a child you have never seen. I am surprised by some parents’?determination to be nannies to adults.

Some could argue that parents are driven by the genuine desire to see their children succeed, but they are using the wrong approach.

What is the better option? Can we learn from others?

Lots of affluent Kenyans take their children to?high-cost schools that either match or exceed the amenities of the?home environment. That motivates children to like school. That used to?happen in the past. Did I hear that Lenana and Nairobi schools had?golf courses that were later turned into cattle paddocks? Is it?surprising the schools are underperforming?

We need to upgrade our schools, not just in terms of technology, but on?soft issues.

Some children have access to the Internet at home but not in?school. Parents treat children as their equals at home, but they are?treated differently in school. It is no wonder that some?students recently made reference to the Constitution when going on strike.

The best option is to come up with new motivators.

Have you noted how the?corporate world has shifted to non-financial motivators such as share?options and other benefits like holidays? We could borrow the idea in our schools.

Such non-material motivators need more creativity from parents and teachers. One surprising motivator is providing channels?for self-expression and creativity. Ever wondered why music and dance?are so popular with youngsters?

Schools must go beyond traditional lessons and enrich the curriculum?with games, music, art and craft, and science and technological?pursuits. Check the curriculum of international schools.

Aspirational goals

These?studies shift the students from material to aspirational goals, which have?no limit. There is no ultimate score in golf or best song; there will?always be a better one.

Aspirational goals demand parents to invest?more at home and in school. Why do children of the middle class tend?to do well in school? Is it because there is another level to aspire?to?

The Government must invest in schools. How many new games have we?introduced in our schools? Beyond the annual science congress and drama?festivals, how else do we tap the creative energy of our children?

Lots of children, particularly in rural areas and slums, find both the?school and home unattractive and uninspirational and are willing to?experiment with crime and others vices to get an identity.

Could the?poor children’s lack of inspiration be driven by inequality? Do children give?up after realising they may never reach the upper class and the middle?class is too small?

We must become more inspirational and maybe more philosophical. Our schools must go beyond books. Visit top schools, from Kabarak to Alliance, and it will surprise you the efforts they make to inspire students.

More inspiration

Interestingly, most high school students will read?and pass. They are young and energetic; all they want is?to be inspired by higher ideals. Ever wondered why missionaries were so?successful in schools?

We are not the first generation to confront this?dilemma; affluence has its consequences. The way we resolve this?dilemma will determine if the next generation will be better than the?previous one.

Some communities, such as Kenyan Asians, have resolved this dilemma by?focusing on hard work, frugality and family. Instilling such values in?the next generation with all the media around is not easy, but it is worthy.?There could be no better catalyst of economic growth than well-motivated youth.

Without making such efforts to motivate the next?generation, we risk falling victim to what Geoffrey Griffins, the late director of?Starehe Boys Centre, warned us about: from rags to?riches and back to rags in three generations.

The writer is a lecturer at the University of Nairobi.

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