Superficiality destroys the capacity to learn.
Toluwani described that after finishing their WAEC exams, her pupils threw a glamorous party, while the whole year not spending one dime on their education, on anything that would actually help them. The most impactful part to me was this:
The saddest part is that some of them are still asking us teachers what we have for them, asking if we will give them gifts, money, or “packages.” It is painful and disappointing. Many of us teachers have been working hard, offering free advice, encouragement, and sometimes even our own money to help them. But instead of showing appreciation, they are demanding more from us. It’s as if we owe them something.
Teaching is one of the most difficult jobs in the world, and probably the most important one. It’s not even a job to most, it’s a calling, a vocation. But it’s losing so much appreciation on all fronts – underpaid, understaffed, even a “Thank you” is becoming rare.
If it was just that...
They do their best, but the headwinds are getting stronger. They’re becoming the target of parents who “only want the best” for their children, which apparently includes not accepting their children’s flaws and shortcomings. Instead of working together with the teacher to help the child to become “better”, they blame the teacher where they could be a role-model and take responsibility. Most teachers have a lot of insight, and parents could learn a lot from them. But just as their children, many parents are not capable to learn anymore.
Considering that, any questions why those kids are the way they are?
Another thing that I’m seeing more and more around me is that a teacher only can get so far. If the kids don't bring any values from home, but undergo an upbringing that leads them to the superficial hedonism described in the post, but to a path of actual learning, what can a teacher do?
Show me how to learn!
It was my math teacher who – besides teaching us how to calculate when we’re allowed to drive again after getting drunk – told us that math is not about being able to use all those equations in real-life situations, but to learn how to solve problems. And that school is about learning how to learn. But for that, there needs to be a fertile ground that the seed of teaching can fall on, a culture of learning at home. But without that, learning declines into acquisition of skills, leading to what Toluwani calls so perfectly “educated illiterates.”
Learning means admitting you’re not perfect.
And that is not allowed in a society that praises the appearance, not the character. It cherishes the skill acquired to show off, but not the quiet, but far more important change in oneself. Learning means leaving the “save” superficiality, the ego, behind for a second and have a real look at yourself. It can, at least. It can also be “Learning a language in only 10 minutes a day!” or “Become a martial arts master, by only following these 4 steps!”.
But is that learning?
Or is it acquiring a skill? In my many discussions with 
I beat yoga.
He acquired and perfectionated the skill. But he did not learn anything.
