ROLE OF ELDERS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY!

[QUANTUM LEAP]

ROLE OF ELDERS IN EDUCATING THE YOUNG

 

Somalis across the world had the tradition of viewing the old as wise and encouraging relationships between the old and young which permitted that wisdom to be transferred. Older people were part of the education structures of traditional society. They conveyed over justice, happy occasions (Marriages) and were seen as fair in what they did to balance the life styles amongst the young, old and ofcouse the differing clans. The modernisation and professionalisation of the education sector in developing countries has largely taken place within the frame work of western models which remove the role of educator from the Awoowos and Ayeeyos. Whilst the Ciyaal in the schoolrooms of the developing societies of the world are increasingly estranged from older persons as a source of cultural skills and identity, western societies such as Australia have begun to recruit older persons back into the school room as part of the educational team. Somalis must make the most of its informal structures such as kinship and community in resourcing its development and social survival. The unthinking destruction of local heritage under the banner of universal and global knowledge must now be challenged. We must realize that its only “WE†who can benefit ourselves and the only way is by sticking together and using the little resources we have coupled with local and international education to enhance what we have for the sake of ever lasting history and ofcouse heritage which you have to admit is pretty important looking at the way Jews and Asians survive. They preserve what they have but at the same time excel in other types of education and the two combined are quite good.

 

Once upon a time elderly people were viewed as the wise and as a key source of social knowledge and wisdom. Modern educational arrangements have largely removed this 'knowledge' status from the indigenous old and transferred the same status onto the formally and, at least from the perspective of local communities, externally trained experts (Caadan who know more about the culture than its people). We now have a situation where the person teaching you doesn’t have a clue of your background and work towards bringing the richness of what you have to his world.

Preserving knowledge of cultural tales and history is an obvious candidate for older persons' contributions to the young. The restricted availability of locally produced reading materials which reflect and incorporate local culture as compared with the greater availability of externally authored and produced materials represents a problem at every level of what’s left of our education system. The presence of wise Awoowos in the classroom willing to transmit Oral tales and history (since we don’t have written material or archives) will not only help children's intellectual processing abilities but serve to retain key cultural values at the forefront of the experience of modern children. We must try to recover what’s left of the Somali written history, anecdotes and tales likes Cigaal shidaad and xawo tako and make sure we never lose them. I hope that our divisions don’t make us lose what has been in existence for many years. Let’s embrace what is good in our heritage and let’s hope too that we can use the new educational system to help us tell our future grandchildren about the past that was once like paradise on earth so we can avoid the present that is disappearing slowly but surely.

[M-illa-tnt]

Don't forget they would also beat u in the head with respect also. Thats the key for success in our culture the listen to your awoowo's good advice, and if u don't act right he will straighten u out with his ul. I think thats what we need back home all the grandparents get together and just give out big-asswoping to all them thugs. u will see we don't need no new govt just awoowe and ayeeyo with some uls and suun.

[- Femme -]

^^^^LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL. Exactly

[MR ORGILAQE]

what a wonderful piece you wrote here.I totally agree send the grans over with their canes and teach this faddy daddies a lesson!

[Mohamed nuur]

elders are our backbone, I mean what are we going to do if we have bunch 20 year olds fighting for power in somalia, it would have been a disaster

 

On the other hand elders have a conservative view of the world in other words they dont like to change alot, and that makes us the young people suffer because we feel like moving on and catching up with the world,

[juba]

i totally agree that the elderly are very important to society and educating our youth. I associtate them with culture and wisdom, especially the old somalis. They have experience, hence their wisdom. The children of today would probably be different if they listend to their grandparents.