16 June 1976

38 years ago today, this was happening in my country.

(Mini history lesson: The Apartheid government had introduced new laws that the primary instruction language in South African schools would be Afrikaans. This obviously posed a great problem for Xhosa speaking students as this would be their third language after Xhosa and English and would make learning in an already very oppressive education system virtually impossible. These students set to the streets in Soweto where they protested and marched against this new law, how they were educated and treated in general. They were met with open fire by the Apartheid police.)

I've always felt that education should be the element that frees people and gives them an opportunity to reach their full potential whether it be to pursue creativity, find or discover the impossible or to simply relieve yourself of circumstances which you did not particularly choose to be in. That is why this day in particular affects me. By taking away somebody's chance to do these things, is the worst kind of oppression. That is why this day should not be forgotten. These students recognised this and they fought back.

I look at the students I taught in South Africa last year and I wonder how many of them would have stood up and fought in the way that these children did?

Now, being in a completely different society where education is one of the driving forces, I see education in a different light. I know that I could probably stand to be corrected in many ways and I interact with the lucky circles and families who make educating their children a number one priority. I see how children go to very elite schools where educating the child and allowing them to be an individual plays the biggest role. I see how parents feed into their children's passions and talents and go to the ends of the earth to provide them with endless resources and tools they need. This is education in the form that it was maybe meant to be. 

Without this goal in mind, I would probably not have a job here. 

I look at the students I teach this year and I wonder if they realise how lucky they are. I wonder if they will ever know and appreciate that there were once children like the ones you see in the photos who were willing to die in order to get the education they desired, needed and most importantly- deserved. 

So today, even though today is just another Monday in Moscow, I will think about those children and I will celebrate them by asking you to think about them too.