Pictured below are some of TIE's home schooling
teachers, who met with Nabi and I Saturday afternoon. They have not been
threatened by the Taliban. They teach in villages near Kabul, which
are much more difficult for the Taliban to penetrate.
I've often thought that the best strategy in the war for hearts and
minds is to work from the center out. Apply what aid is available to the cities
and adjoining villages, and move outward as resources permit. Villages
receiving support are less likely to view the central government as corrupt and
Nato forces as "occupiers". They will also provide the intelligence
needed to protect their area and take on the Taliban themselves. Perhaps I've
seen too many movies. Not perhaps, I have. But, circling the wagons coupled with
scouting parties seemed to make perfect sense when the settlers were
outnumbered. Bring back the Duke, "pilgrims".
I strayed off topic, to throw my two cents into the debate over what our
next strategy should be. It's a debate that weighs heavily on the Afghans I've
spoken with since Friday. Now, back to the meeting with the teachers.
Without exception the teachers were very happy. They commented on how
important it was that we provide school supplies where needed, including pens,
pencils, paper, notebooks, rulers etc. They were also pleased that we had
replaced the old textbooks with the new textbooks, approved by the Ministry of Education.
"As long as there are children who want to learn, I will be a teacher"
The lack of school supplies and textbooks in many of the schools is
astounding. It costs us around $2.00 per month per student to provide supplies
and textbooks. As much as someone might think the parents should be expected to
pay these costs, it doesn't make sense to hold out. The children would go
without. Note how many supplies you see on the desks pictured below. The
fundamental problem, according to the teachers, is that many families don't
have the money. We, fortunately, do.
I asked whether they would like us to provide courses for their
better students during the winter. The "fast track" idea got the
"swift boot". "The better students are good for the slower
students." "They provide healthy competition in the classroom."
"They help the other students." "They are good role
models.""They are better behaved." "They should learn
with the other students."The teachers were passionate about this issue. I
beat a hasty retreat and changed the subject.
I wasn't advocating a fast track. I just wanted to know what they
thought about offering winter classes for the better students. The culturally
imperialistic capitalist pig morally corrupt infidel invader now knows. Did I
miss any adjectives used to discredit our work?
I was more successful when I asked whether they would like
to take classes. Every one said they would like to attend courses that taught
them how to be better teachers. The search for teacher
education courses has begun.
There was one wish list item we discussed in April that is
now off the wish list. It's done. I'll share that with you later this week. If
we get the green light from the commander in the area we will see it tomorrow.
It was another great day. So, I celebrated by eating one of
the two Snickers Bars I've been hiding from Nabi.Please don't forward this
newsletter to Nabi. I've taken him off the mailing list for this email.
Budd
ps I'll
share my Starbursts or Good & Plenty's, but not my chocolates. Some
sacrifices are just too great.
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