Literary enthusiasts know Henrik Ibsen. I put the Scandinavian playwright on a pedestal because he anchored his plays on the philosophy of realism. No wonder, his carefully-crafted plays have featured as school set texts in Kenya. Recently, there was A Doll’s House, replaced by The Samaritan. Earlier on, there was An Enemy of the People, which I read ravenously as a Form Four candidate at Nyamninia Secondary School in Gem — gem of venerable academic giants. I remember fondly, with the good guidance and advice of my great teacher of English, Mwalimu Norich Munyasia, the sweetheart of the dramaturge Mwalimu Shikuku Shitubi; I understood the winsome wisdom of a cautious character called Aslaksen, who was fond of telling his contemporaries to proceed with moderation. Likewise, Roman Catholics consider moderation or temperance as a cardinal virtue; alongside prudence, justice and fortitude.
Arguably, in case Dr. Thomas Stockman, the protagonist in An Enemy of the People proceeded with moderation, he would have dodged miseries and misfortunes. For his less moderation made his sons — Morten and Ejlief — to be expelled from school. The daughter, Petra, and the friend Captain Horster — were retrenched from work. To add insult to injury, his window panes were shattered by a hubbub. His black pair of favourite trousers were torn asunder without a tad of mercy.
My nearest dearest, what is the moral lesson of the didactic drama? Moderation is more important. Extremism causes chaos. Extremism puts people in trouble. This is close to what we have seen in some schools at the tail-end of the second term of school calendar. Some teachers crossed the Rubicon. So, they met judgement in courts of public opinion. Most moralists cast aspersions on some items presented. A certain clip that went viral on social sites disturbed the collective conscience of sane citizens. Some teachers became extreme on how they did a jig. While some male and female teachers danced in pairs to the blissful ohangla beats of Odongo Swag, (Mang’ang’a son of Nyar Ng’iya), the moves aroused wild emotions in students. They lit a fire no water can put out.
Indeed, dancing is enjoyable. Then, dancing is not bad. But certain dancing styles can raise serious concerns. For instance, even if a teacher is possessed with juogi (spirits) of exuberance in dance, it is wise to be considerate, modest and moderate. More so, when an adult is dancing in front of children with weak will and irresolute judgement. Largely, cultural events in schools are meant to entertain and contain students. But every form of entertainment should be educative. One word for it is edutainment. Doing anything before students who have impressionable minds must be well-thought-ought. We must be wise, not otherwise. For impressions we make in the minds of students are like wet cements: they remain indelible.
Again, educators should never forget about lessons learnt in common courses such as Psychology of Education. Just to rack perspicacious minds of the dear reader, in Social Learning Theory, the putative psychologist Albert Bandura talked of Vicarious Learning and Modelling. Vicarious learning occurs while observing others. Learning beyond direct personal experiences. Learners observe behaviour of teachers. Additionally, modelling is learning by imitating behaviour of a model: the teacher. It is monkey see, monkey do.
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Therefore, you now know why masters must be careful when dancing with disciples when the sun has not slept. So, even when a teacher is dancing during light moment, it is wise to remain conscious that students are picking learning experiences. It is wrong to be seen as obscene. Male teachers should not dance seductively before girls who are still gullible. Female teachers should not boil loins of boys. Instead, they should be decent, modest and considerate. Content of the brain is the best part teachers should show-case to students, and not gyration of backsides. Even if a female teacher is nubile and blessed, she should shun behaving like hot hussies honking horns for attention in the street at night after twilight. In 1 Timothy 2:9, Paul the Apostle instructed Timothy to remind women to be modest. Quoth he, “I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety … with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.
Somehow, students are caught up in what the putative psychologist Erick Erickson called Identity Crisis, period of uncertainty and confusion about one’s sense of self. Triggered by life transitions or major changes. It revolves around questioning one’s values, beliefs, goals and roles in life. This is not far from Identity Moratorium related to James Marcia’s Identity Status Model, explaining how adolescents navigate identity formation based on two key dimensions: exploration and commitment.
Finally, I think school cultural events should adhere to utilitarianism? They should be in line with National Goals of Education. Then, they should define culture: way of life manifesting in our language, dressing, food, practices, activities, mores, values, et cetera. Great schools anchor on heroic culture, tradition, practices and programmes. Schools have core values, which as a scribe I describe: Culture principles. In a page-turner titled Built to Last, Jim Collins contends that in global standards, institutions should have six culture principles. Then, because the philosophy of an institution abuts on its vision, mission and culture principles, educators should strive to arrive at creative ways of correct cultural appreciation.
Meaning, in cultural events, core values of schools should ring loud like tintinnabulation of bells. So, in case the school recognises fear of God as a core value, then bad behaviour should be avoided. In case respect is a core value, items should be vetted earlier so that students do not misuse mimicry to embarrass some teachers on the full glare of cameras. Teachers in charge should ensure that items to be presented are vetted earlier during dress rehearsal. For when a person uses satire and humour, and the audience breaks into gales of laughter, the person targeted feels uneasy because it manifests as sarcasm.
By Victor Ochieng’
The writer rolls out talks and training services. vochieng.90@gmail.com. 0704420232
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