Are You an Early Bird?
The English saying “the early bird catches the worm” is known to all English learners. It is to encourage people, especially to encourage children, to get up early and work hard. We also have quite a lot of similar expressions in Chinese language.
So, one day a primary school teacher let his pupils make a composition entitled “The early bird catches the worm”. However, a little boy, now a Chinese nationwide famous fairy tale author, changed the title into “The early worm is most likely to be eaten”. He wrote: “Be fully aware whether you are a bird or a worm before you get up. If you were a bird, OK, get up early and catch your worms. However, if I were unfortunately to be a worm I would most possibly be eaten by those smart early birds if I were foolishly to swallow the advice.”
I could help but gave the bright little boy three cheers when reading his creative composition! Whereas, believe it or not, his composition got a ZERO! I can hardly describe how much disappointed I am! I don't know how many splendid ideas in our kids' minds have been thus snuffed out by such a teacher!
Fortunately and thank goodness the little boy’s creative thinking was not killed by his teacher instead it was strongly encouraged by his great father. Otherwise we probably would not so lucky to have a fairy tale writer now!
What the little boy wrote thirty years ago are still of revelatory or prophetic nature to nowadays society for we all know how severe the competition is. Therefore, it is important to find a right position in society for each one of us - if I am not so smart as a bird I have to protect myself wisely not to be eaten. Well, there is not an iota of preaching to be a coward when facing difficulties; we are in a struggle for survival after all!
[此贴子已经被作者于2005-12-26 17:03:54编辑过]
