Social Values

Study this picture carefully and then read the sentences next to it.

Read the following poem aloud.

We yearn for harmony and understanding,
We long for peace and joy,
Just as the deer pants for water,
But these we cannot enjoy,
If we are not honest and kind,
To all around us.

We experience much sorrow and misery,
We cry in pain and agony,
Like slaves yearning for freedom.
But we can restore hope and laughter.
If we can show love and goodness
To all around us.​​​​​​​​​​

We witness much hatred and injustice,
We live in fear and uncertainty,​
​Like a gazelle pursued by a pack of hyenas.
But we can banish such from our midst
If we show respect and forgiveness
To all around us.

We see many sitting idly all day long,
We see demons of poverty creeping among us,
Like monsters about to devour us.
But we can transform our society and prosper
If we teach hard work and discipline
To all around us.​​​​​​​​

Read the following passage.

Nyambane Meets his Match

Nyambane was now in standard eight. He usually came top of his class and he had many friends. Being an outgoing, intelligent and fun-loving boy, he attracted friends the way light attracts moths at night. He had a smile and a cheerful word for everyone.

However, Nyambane did not feel as confident as he looked. His restless spirit and the desire to impress others controlled him. What he wanted above everything else was to be accepted and liked by other people. Of course others liked him, but he didn’t think so. He thought he had to do certain things to win their friendship. So, deep inside, Nyambane was unhappy.

One day, a girl in his class helped him to begin looking at things differently. Her name was Lucy and she was a beauty. To Nyambane, she was like an angel: humble, gentle and friendly. He liked her very much and tried all sorts of tricks to draw her attention. But Lucy did not seem to notice. During break, he would follow her and her playmates and watch their game from a distance. Then he began buying her sweets with money stolen from his grandmother. Nyambane would sneak into his grandmother’s house when she was out and remove some coins from the glass container where she kept her money. He thought giving sweets to Lucy and her friends would surely make an impact. And it did. They seemed grateful and Nyambane’s heart swelled with pride whenever Lucy gave him that sparkling smile of hers.

On their way to school one morning Lucy said, “Nyambane, I would like to talk to you at lunch time.”

Nyambane didn’t expect it, but he mumbled, “All right.” He wondered what she wanted to tell him. He waited anxiously and did not even concentrate on what the teacher was saying. The teacher noticed and asked him, “Nyambane, why are some people bald-headed?”

The answer he gave left everybody roaring with laughter. “Madam,” he said, “people who look bald-headed are not really bald. They just happen to be taller than their hair.” The teacher’s question helped him to stop daydreaming.

It was lunchtime and true to her word, Lucy walked up to him as soon as they stepped out of the classroom. “Nyambane,” she began as she and Nyambane sat down under a tree near their classroom, “I just want to ask you a question.”

“Yes....”

“Where do you get the money with which you buy us sweets?”

“Eh... eh... I... I... use my pocket money,” Nyambane stammered.

“Are you sure? Is that the truth?”

He suddenly felt guilty. Images of his old grandmother invaded his mind. Lucy seemed to see right through him. He couldn’t lie to her. “I lied to you, Lucy. I steal the money from Grandmother. I feel so ashamed of myself.”

“Why steal?”

“I just wanted to draw your attention. I’m sorry.”

“Nyambane, you don’t have to steal to impress me. I like you just the way you are. I don’t blame you because we all do wrong things. But please remember to be honest and to respect other people’s property, even your grandmother’s.”

“Thank you, Lucy. I won’t do that again. This evening, I will apologize to my grandmother, admit all the wrong I have done and ask her for forgiveness.”

“That’s the right thing to do, Nyambane,” Lucy said.

“I like you, Lucy. You are a good friend.”

“I like you too, Nyambane but no more sweets,” she smiled and off she went.”

Lucy’s words, hard words, yet spoken so gently, made Nyambane examine his life anew. It was surprising that so young a person could give him such good advice. He was amazed at Lucy’s goodness of heart: although she knew the truth about him, she still liked him. He marvelled.

A few days later the school was having the annual sports day. The chief guest spoke to everyone present about the need to exercise morality and self-control. He said that people who have good morals treat others fairly and shun behaviour that offends or embarrasses others. “Self-control helps us to resist temptations to do or say things we may later regret. If we want to live in a peaceful society, then we must obey the law of the land and prove to be trustworthy. We must not forget to love one another because love is the greatest virtue,” he concluded.

These words reminded Nyambane of what Lucy had told him. A few days earlier, he had sought his grandmother’s pardon and she had forgiven him. He felt like a new person. Indeed he was a new person and people had begun to notice the difference. Nyambane felt happier than ever before.