YouTube Junior High School

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Parenting is very easy in this century. Have kids, give them digital toys to play games initially, then they graduate to phones. YouTube will teach them everything they need to know, and not supposed to know. But YouTube:

1. Cannot teach them how to bring the dust pan while you are sweeping. They’ve made a connection between the beginning of the motion, the end result which is the pile of dust and its final disposal which may be the thrash can or a bag full of leaves.

2. Cannot teach them how to divide potatoes into groups of ten. Mama took me along to the market for the ‘division’ (ukuhlukanisa in Zulu).  She and three of her friends will buy vegetables in bulk, then divide them into four piles. Schools call it multiplication and division.

3. Cannot teach them how to listen to night sounds as they sit outside with parents after dinner. Every part of the day has unique sounds.

4. Cannot teach them how to touch elders’ feet, a sign of respect in many cultures like the Yoruba in Nigeria and India as well. They learn by sight. They do it because parents and all adults they grow up with, do it.

5. Cannot teach them how to feel water for their bath. Dad, it’s too hot. The father opens the tap and dilutes it. Parents have taught them the difference between hot, warm, lukewarm and cold.

6. Cannot teach them how to say excuse me and thank you, simple words that might determine their future in the workplace and interaction with strangers out there.

7. Cannot teach them how to walk along the road that has no pavement.

8. Cannot teach them how to eat cheap meat cuts today, so that they’ll afford a full steak after graduation, or when they make money on YouTube, selling cornbread without the corn. That’s right.

Nonqaba waka Msimang

Executive Blogger

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