Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, May 8: A letter written by Abraham Lincoln to his son’s schoolteacher will now be displayed in schools across the state to inspire teachers to perform their duty to the best of their capabilities, an official of an official of the Orissa Primary Education Programme Authority said Friday.
Considered to be the greatest US President ever, Lincoln on his son’s first day of school wrote a heartfelt letter asking the schoolteacher to teach his son that “10 cents earned is of far more value than a dollar found”.
“In school, teacher, it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat. Teach him to learn how to gracefully lose, and enjoy winning when he does win,” Lincoln wrote in the letter that has now become a guiding force for teachers the world over.
“Teach him to sell his talents and brains to the highest bidder but never to put a price tag on his heart and soul,” he wrote.
“He will have to know that all men are not just, that all men are not true. But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero, that for every crooked politician there is a dedicated leader,” Lincoln wrote.
The state government has decided to translate the letter into Oriya and distribute it to schools across the state, where it will be displayed prominently in office rooms and common rooms.
The idea to display Lincoln’s letter is reportedly the first of its kind in the country, and will now be reportedly followed by other states.
“Orissa has initiated the plan which is now being followed by other states. We have decided to do such a thing to encourage and empower teachers, which will simultaneously reflect on students,” said the official.
Officials of OPEPA have already begun distributing the letters entitled ‘A Letter to Teachers’ to all primary and upper primary schools across the state from April 1. The letter will be displayed in schools once they reopen in June.
