You know, inside a kid's head appear some of the strangest questions you would ever want to hear, answer, or think about. And we can't just open our mouths and say their questions are unreasonable or out of context, then maybe it may have never occurred to you before that such questions exist. Kids are smart, hardworking, and forward-thinking.
The world is big, bad things have happened in it, and so have a lot of good things. It was during a class lesson after I had finished teaching environmental pollution when one of the students asked during our discussion on the topic,
“Sir, do you think the world would be better if we went back to the ancient days, or is it better that we continue into the future?”
For a moment, I had kept quiet, not because I didn't have the answers to her question or lacked them, but I had the realization that the question was not as simple as it sounded. It was the type of question that demanded wisdom and enough thinking to answer. It was also a question many adults have opinions about, but to call a spade a spade, only a few have actually thought about it.
That day, what I shared with her was a conversation that was worth sharing.
First: Understand the Appeal of the Ancient World
The ancient world isn't pleading with us for us to bring it back to life. You should acknowledge something about this question, and that's what keeps attracting us to the ancient times. There may be reasons, and some of these include
- The bond that people shared with their community and their family
- The respect people had for the elders, the elderly, and their traditions
- The lifestyle was less stressful, especially due to the abundance of resources and the small population
- The close relationship people had with Mother Nature (the natural world)
People lived in forests, slept in trees. They drank water from the rain and ate fresh fruit from the trees. There were no cars to cause pollution, and there were no mines to degrade the land. Gold and diamonds were picked from the river birds and the ground without any force or digging. History confirms all this. But then, I told my students, it is not wrong that you admire the past; it also had its flaws, and that admiration is not the same as relocation. People grew, gave birth,h and travelled.
Second: The Hard Truth: Ancient Times Were Not Kinder
What we mostly forget is that the ancient days were not as kind as we assumed them either.
- There was a short life expectancy because of the lack of hospitals
- There was a lack of knowledge about medical medicine and treatments
- There was widespread slavery, and women and children had limited rights
- There was no access to this modern education, nor was there access to information
To make my student also understand this better, I asked her a simple question also:
Would you be willing to live life without our world's modern medicine, electricity, or the right to speak freely? Would you love to fall sick or hurt yourself and not be able to get a good road network and transport to the hospital?
I hope you can guess what she would say, and that is exactly what she said. And for her, all she could do was to give me a smile, because already, she knew the answer.
Why Going Forward Into the Future is also Important
Progress has never been a problem. What is the problem is forgetfulness. Continuing into the future does not mean who shouldn't be wise enough in our decisions, it only means we have to go on with the right lessons. The advancement the world has attained so far has given us:
- An access to education throughout the world and everywhere
- The chance to make medicines and establish hospitals that save the lives of millions of people.
- The chance to gain access to technology, ideas, and a whole lot more from around the world
The Answer I Gave My Student
I said to her:
The world does not need to go back, but the world needs to always remember. And what should we remember? We should remember that the world needs to be a better place, a safer place, and a home for all. We do not have to reject the values our forefathers left behind for us, but that doesn't mean that we should cast our responsibilities away.
Going into the future is more helpful, with new developments and new ideas. New technology means we will be able to communicate more easily, have better livelihoods, and have good access to hospitals, schools, and our needs.
We should also know that it is our responsibility to make our planet a sustainable one for all humanity. Our actions today must not have any negative effect on what the next generation will come to meet, witness, or see. We must strive to live peacefully and coexist among ourselves without infringing on the rights of anyone.
"Lessons For Today's Students & Young People"
As someone who interacts with students on a daily basis, I have observed a trend: students' young minds are not uncertain about their beliefs or values; they are seeking balance and we have to give it to them.
What Today's Student Needs To Succeed
- History as a means to provide wisdom, rather than a mere recollection of past events
- Technological advancements that will serve as guides to ethical practices
- Education designed to develop critical thinkers, not dependent on teachers or textbooks
- Mentors with real-life experiences to guide them through their journey
Students are able to take ownership of their actions, make responsible decisions, and develop the ability to learn from the past (traditions) and their mistakes. The future of society will rely upon students who are able to engage in critical thinking, act responsibly, and learn from both tradition and their own mistakes.
Why This Conversation Is Now More Important Than Ever
In an era of rapid technological advancements and changing information at incredible rates, students asking such questions as my student did are indicative of students being aware of the issues facing society.
These questions also provide insight to educators, parents, and community leaders that:
- While progress may be rapidly developing, it should be guided and not allowed to be uncontrolled
- Wisdom and knowledge developed over thousands of years should be preserved
- Young people and their voices are worthy of thoughtful consideration
- To avoid such discussions would be significantly more hazardous than to engage in them.
Creating A Better Future, One Step At A Time (The Conclusion)
There is no requirement for society to move backwards in order to improve itself. Society simply requires slowing down enough to recall why humanity was significant in the first place.
I urged my student, and I urge you, the reader, to study history thoroughly, use innovation cautiously, and live with intent.
We do not run into the future blindfolded; we create the future purposefully, using the most advanced technology available to us, while utilizing the most valuable lessons of our past.
Do not dismiss such thoughts when they enter your mind; sit with them, discuss them, and that is how we create a purposeful progression.
You can also read:
Someone Asked Me What We Came To Do On Earth And I Didn't Know The Answer to Give
