UBUNTU: Part of the Lexicon of Living/Learning
Anyone in the education should know something about mission statements--educators adapted them to schools and school districts many years ago. While strolling around the extensive campus of Norkem Park High School the other day, I came across the school's prominantly displayed, framed mission statement. There was nothing particularily different about it--except for the pecurilar (to me), Ubuntu word.
Actually I had come across the word in a travel book published by Fodors while preparing to travel to South Africa. It meant something to me then and now it means even more: since it is supposed to be part of who we are at N.P.H.S. Simply put, the Zulu word means "being human." It infers being caring and compassionate toward others. In that context, I believe it is a truly meaningful word that compells us to be just that!
The mission statement exhibited there had the appropriate references toward the Gauteng Department of Education and Norkem Park High School. It stated:
Our vision is a smart service delivery of quality public education, which promotes a dynamic
citizenship for socio-economic growth and development in Gauteng and South Africa.
We will be at the cutting edge of curriculum delivery and provide access to quality lifelong learning
opportunities.
This will be shaped by the principles of transformation, equity, redress and Ubuntu.
Transformation stands out to me, representing the immense changes undergone by the peoples of South Africa since the end of apartheid. Nelson R. Mandela, to my understanding, brought a wave of reconciliation and redress to this bountiful, diverse country--something that has never been seen anywhere here or anywhere else on earth in the capacity evidenced within the constraints of democracy. It is truly a laboratory of many diverse peoples interacting in a nation with obvious problems, but one with tremendous potential for humankind.
I distinctly recall the pilot of our S.A. Airlines jumbo-jet welcoming us to South Africa upon touching down at Johannesburg International. He said the expected, usual kind words...but he urged the passengers not to forget "redress" in our daily lives. It meant forgiveness...the genius of Mandela shined forth that early day for me. The word flew off the mission page statement for me--as did the reference toward Ubuntu.
Today is Sunday, January 15, another day of learning and living in an area of the world sometimes referred to as the "Cradle of Humankind." Indeed, Ubuntu embraces an ideal that humankind could learn from. It is a word for the ages--a word that deserves wider recognition within our lexicon of living.
Actually I had come across the word in a travel book published by Fodors while preparing to travel to South Africa. It meant something to me then and now it means even more: since it is supposed to be part of who we are at N.P.H.S. Simply put, the Zulu word means "being human." It infers being caring and compassionate toward others. In that context, I believe it is a truly meaningful word that compells us to be just that!
The mission statement exhibited there had the appropriate references toward the Gauteng Department of Education and Norkem Park High School. It stated:
Our vision is a smart service delivery of quality public education, which promotes a dynamic
citizenship for socio-economic growth and development in Gauteng and South Africa.
We will be at the cutting edge of curriculum delivery and provide access to quality lifelong learning
opportunities.
This will be shaped by the principles of transformation, equity, redress and Ubuntu.
Transformation stands out to me, representing the immense changes undergone by the peoples of South Africa since the end of apartheid. Nelson R. Mandela, to my understanding, brought a wave of reconciliation and redress to this bountiful, diverse country--something that has never been seen anywhere here or anywhere else on earth in the capacity evidenced within the constraints of democracy. It is truly a laboratory of many diverse peoples interacting in a nation with obvious problems, but one with tremendous potential for humankind.
I distinctly recall the pilot of our S.A. Airlines jumbo-jet welcoming us to South Africa upon touching down at Johannesburg International. He said the expected, usual kind words...but he urged the passengers not to forget "redress" in our daily lives. It meant forgiveness...the genius of Mandela shined forth that early day for me. The word flew off the mission page statement for me--as did the reference toward Ubuntu.
Today is Sunday, January 15, another day of learning and living in an area of the world sometimes referred to as the "Cradle of Humankind." Indeed, Ubuntu embraces an ideal that humankind could learn from. It is a word for the ages--a word that deserves wider recognition within our lexicon of living.
posted by JOBURG JOURNAL at 6:57 AM
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