A couple of weeks had gone by when I paid a colleage of mine a visit in Tagounit, a town located on the outskirts of Zagora city. At last, I went there, for I had always wanted to borrow from him some books as he had promised me. And I soon made up my mind to explore the area as well. As soon as we had lunch, talked about some professional issues and discussed some personal subjects, he and I decided to have a walk outside the town. We went by motorcycle to the nearest village. And here began my contemplation of every single object, house and human being.
No sooner had we gone a few kilometers far from the town than I began to see many pupils coming from, and going to, the nearby school. I noticed that most of them were leading a bleak life. Their family have no stable livelihood except what they earn from selling dates each year. The village is mainly noted for the latter. As we were getting along the road, I caught a glimpse of a young pupil sitting under a tree. The satchel was between his legs, and he was folding his arms. Frankly, I did not pay any more attention to him as I regarded him as a mere pupil seeking rest or shadow under a tree.
As we moved forward, out of curiosity, I could not help casting more glances at the pupil in question. I too received some glances on his part, but his eyes were reddish and gloomy-looking ; his face, dejected and some wrinkles suddenly formed on his forehead. I that instant knew that he was a victim of a certain predicament. Anyway, Elhussein, my colleague, and I went directly to the river which was close to the school he was teaching in. We stayed there for two hours, beholding the shining river. I so much appreciated the trees which grew on the river. Standing by the riverside, it was such a real panoramic view !
I soon gave up the idea of the pupil. Only when we were turning back on our way to the town were I taken aback. I found the same pupil under another tree. This time he was standing and looking at us. Actually, I stopped to greet the pupil. Then, I began to ask him some personal questions. Though a trifle sad and introverted, the pupil at last managed to respond to nearly all my questions. The response that drew my attention most was when he said that he stayed under the tree the whole afternoon. He added it was because one of his teachers asked him to go out.
In fact, he told me that he had not brought the required notebooks their teacher asked him for. He added that last year he ranked third at school. The crux of the matter, he stressed, lied in that his father passed away a few weeks ago and as a result his family could not afford to buy him what he needed. He also told me that he frequently went on foot to school. And I was shocked to learn from him that the school he studied in was seven kilometers far from his home.
As I was in a rush, for my friend was impatiently awaiting me while talking to the pupil, I had to bid the latter goodbye. On my way to Zagora center, the question that remained on my mind for the rest of that day was how come the teacher did not have some consideration for this pupil. Perhaps, the teacher is not originally from there and had no idea how most pupils led their lives in remote villages.
I really have no idea how many pupils have already sat under those trees. But it goes without saying that many already did. Personally, as long as the pupil is not disruptive, I will never send him out. By saying so, I am not encouraging idleness on the part of pupils. I simply stress that with some pupils like the one I mentioned, attending classes with no notebooks would be better than sitting under a tree, doing nothing.
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