Lead by Example

As I mentioned in my last post, students are as familiar with the concept of "lead by example" as they are with a New York style pizza (something I'm currently craving). It's not Tanzanian tradition to give respect to get it. Rather, authority figures demand respect and give very little; it's simply the way of the social food chain.

The most prominent display of the oppressor/ minion dynamics is within the school setting. A student's role is first and foremost to serve the teachers, regardless of inconvenience or injustice. For example, students are given a 30 minute break, during which they are given free porridge, provided by the WorldTeach sponsors. This is a gift to students in order to improve their physical and mental capability of academic excellence. However, as students break for porridge, many are intercepted by demanding requests. Teachers, people with jobs and incomes, feel that their free porridge fill is a priority. Not only is the porridge site a five minute walk from school, but some students are trapped making multiple trips. After returning with a teacher's porridge, another teacher may decide he needs some also. While the student's away, teachers decide they need snacks to go with their porridge. It's a routine of "if you give a mouse a cookie..." and it happens every single day.

Not only do the demands distinguish one's authority level, but the communication does, as well. Typically when a teacher asks for porridge or food, he expects a "yes, sir" or "yes, teacher" response. Anything less will not be tolerated. I've seen students respectfully meet their teachers' relentless demands, only to be scolded for the way they silently nod. Today, I watched a teacher ask a Form 1 student an English question, and he mimicked her for stumbling over her English response. Despite the freshness of the foreign language, the teacher felt the right to tease her for her hesitation.

Unfortunately these are dynamics that I have to accept as cultural. Very few students actually make their way through the education system. During their time, they are treated like minions, but the promise of respect awaits them at the end. Sadly, this means most students that transition to authority will too become the insensitive leader. I've seen it happen with my roommate. Every Saturday at 8 am, he hosts a class for Form 4 students. Sometimes he's almost on time, but usually it's reaching 9 when he gets out the door. When calling attention to this visible issue, he responded, "Students wait on teachers, not the other way around," as he moseyed out the door. My roommate, like the Mtanga teachers, is no cruel, villainous soul. These actions speak of the oppression that the teachers once faced, as well. Tanzanians are conditioned to believe that in order to have respect, you must be a dominating presence. It's the culture, not the person... Or so I continually try to believe.