With so much written about his life, one can marvel at so many things. But one thing struck me particularly powerfully. When Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as president of South Africa in 1994, he invited three of his former prison guards to attend the ceremony. After 27 years of wrongful imprisonment, it is hard to contemplate the magnanimity of that act. But it is instructive to do so, not just for the inspiration we take from the man, but for what it tells us about the qualities we need to see in the world.
When Bill Clinton asked Mandela how he let go of his anger and hatred, he replied “Well, I hated them for fourteen years… and I am not sure, when I was young and strong, if I wasn’t kept alive on my hatred. But one day when I was breaking rocks I realized that they had taken so much from me. They had abused me physically; they had abused me emotionally; they had taken me away from my wife and children; I wouldn’t see my children grow up; eventually it would cost me my marriage. They’d taken everything away from me but my mind and my heart. And I realized that I would have to give those things to them – and I decided not to give them away.” (Raymond de Souza, in the National Post 12 December 2013)
Mandela’s emphasis on minds and hearts speaks strongly; he is perhaps better known for his great heart than his mind, but it’s interesting that he says mind first, and it’s a reminder, if we needed it, that education cannot be about one or the other – it has to be about both. The heart is the engine of change, but the mind steers the direction of travel. It’s not an accident that Mandela accepted the role of Honorary President of the United World College Movement – as our whole vision of education is predicated on this combination of hearts and minds. We are explicitly and highly conscious of this as we articulate our curriculum; that we need to address values profoundly and meaningfully; while also embedding an outstandingly rigorous academic programme. We would have invited Nelson Mandela to our first ever East Graduation in June, and we think he would have been proud to see what he had inspired.
Have a great term.
Nick
2 Responses
a warm and meaningul eulogy!
Thank you