An Analytical Narrative of Lincoln's Letter to His Son's Teacher: A Tapestry of Wisdom and Humanity
Abraham Lincoln's letter to his son's teacher transcends a simple parent's plea. It becomes a profound tapestry woven with threads of wisdom, empathy, and unwavering faith in humanity. Let's explore its intricate themes:
Navigating the World's Labyrinth:
Lincoln acknowledges the world's inherent challenges – conflicts, injustice, and heartbreak. He urges the teacher to equip his son with moral resilience, teaching him to navigate complexities while retaining compassion and hope.
Balancing Idealism and Pragmatism:
The letter advocates for both idealism and pragmatism. While encouraging faith in one's own ideas, Lincoln emphasizes critical thinking and discernment. He wants his son to be a dreamer grounded in reality, able to find value in failure and learn from both victories and defeats.
Cultivating Emotional Intelligence:
Lincoln emphasizes the importance of *emotional literacy*. He encourages the teacher to nurture his son's ability to express emotions like sadness and laughter, fostering a well-rounded individual capable of dealing with life's spectrum of experiences.
Building Strong Moral Character:
The letter stresses the importance of ethical principles. Lincoln wants his son to be *honest, respectful, and independent*, capable of resisting societal pressures and upholding his own values. He emphasizes the value of hard work and self-reliance over unearned gains.
Finding Beauty in the Simple:
Alongside academic pursuits, Lincoln champions the wonders of nature and simple joys. He encourages the teacher to nurture his son's curiosity and appreciation for the world around him, fostering a connection to life beyond textbooks and classrooms.
Faith in Humanity and Self:
Ultimately, the letter is a testament to Lincoln's abiding faith in humanity and the individual. He entrusts the teacher with shaping not just his son's mind, but his heart and soul, with the hope that he will grow into a man who contributes positively to the world.
Beyond the specific instructions, the letter resonates with a universality that transcends time and context. It serves as a reminder of the enduring values we, as individuals and educators, aspire to instill in the next generation. It is a call to nurture resilience, empathy, critical thinking, and a belief in ourselves and in the world around us.
In conclusion, Lincoln's letter transcends the boundaries of a mere parental request. It offers a philosophy for life, a guide for navigating the complexities of the human experience, and a testament to the transformative power of education. It is a reminder that building a better future requires not just academic prowess, but the cultivation of wisdom, compassion, and a deep-seated faith in the potential of human kind.
Aminul Islam Tuku, Chief Facilitator
Centre of Excellence
The letter from Abraham Lincoln to his son's teacher:
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My son starts school today. It is all going to be strange and new to him for a while and I wish you would treat him gently. It is an adventure that might take him across continents. All adventures that probably include wars, tragedy and sorrow. To live this life will require faith, love and courage.So dear Teacher, will you please take him by his hand and teach him things he will have to know, teaching him – but gently, if you can. Teach him that for every enemy, there is a friend. He will have to know that all men are not just, that all men are not true. But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero, that for every crooked politician, there is a dedicated leader.
Teach him if you can that 10 cents earned is of far more value than a dollar found. In school, teacher, it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat. Teach him to learn how to gracefully lose, and enjoy winning when he does win.
Teach him to be gentle with people, tough with tough people. Steer him away from envy if you can and teach him the secret of quiet laughter. Teach him if you can – how to laugh when he is sad, teach him there is no shame in tears. Teach him there can be glory in failure and despair in success. Teach him to scoff at cynics.
Teach him if you can the wonders of books, but also give time to ponder the extreme mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun and flowers on a green hill. Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if every one tell him they are wrong.
Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone else is doing it. Teach him to listen to every one, but teach him also to filters all that he hears on a screen of truth and take only the good that comes through.
Teach him to sell his talents and brains to the highest bidder but never to put a price tag on his heart and soul. Let him have the courage to be impatient, let him have the patient to be brave. Teach him to have sublime faith in himself, because then he will always have sublime faith in mankind, in God.
This is the order, teacher but see what best you can do. He is such a nice little boy and he is my son.
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