35. Do you get that feeling of Déjà vu when you read my speech?

This is the teachers’ speech I made this week at the school assembly. This is not a poem, but written in stanzas so that it would be read with more effect as a speech. This is not a school in Sri Lanka. But you can check if it relevant to your place.

SHIFTING THE RESPONSIBILITY

Whether you go to a government office

or a private company

there is one doubt in your mind.

that is,

whether you’d be able to
get what you want done.

And as you feared

the most common answer that you get is,
“I don’t know”, "It's not my duty."

with a shrug of shoulders,

which is perfectly normal.

And most probably

the officer you wanted to meet

is not at his desk.

He’s either absent
or on annual leave.

Well, everybody has a right to take leave.

The big question is who’s there

to cover up for them.

And take over their responsibilities.

Actually, no one seems to have thought about that.

If one officer is absent,

You have to go back another day,

When he’s back at work,

hopefully.

You must be wondering

Why I’m talking about

government offices and private firms

at the school assembly.

Well, one reason is

School is probably the only place

when one teacher is absent

another teacher is sent on relief duty.

And another is,

the school is the place

where all those government and private company employees

originated from

with their nature of being irresponsible.

It’s at the school we learnt to say,

“I forgot to bring my book.

So’ I’m not working today.

I’m free.”

as if it is the teacher’s fault.

And unfortunately,

“I forgot” is widely accepted and excused.

It’s at the school we learnt to say,

“I was absent for the test because I overslept.”

Again, accepted and sympathized too.

So, you expect the school to give you a retest.

It’s at the school we learnt to say,

“You are asking me not to talk.

You always pick on me.

Look, he’s also talking, not only me”

Finally, It needs a lot of courage

to accept that we are wrong.

And not to point our fingers at the others,

shifting our responsibility to someone else.

Thank you.

Do you get that feeling of  Déjà vu when you read my speech?

Simulblogged at  මට හිතෙන හැටි my Sinhala blog.