INTERESTING STORY OF A STUDENT AND HIS TEACHER

I once stepped into class during revision week and just after my set induction, a student stood up and said

"Sir can I ask a question that doesn't relate to this class? " I answered in the affirmative then he went ahead to ask

"Sir, it right to say I love you to a fellow boy? "

I smiled, stayed silent for few minutes and answered with a loud YES.

The class became tumultuous. Murmurs and giggles filled the air, some students argued with their seat partner, while others laughed and chuckled mischievously. I let it go on for a minute or two before I pointed at a student who was obviously disgusted with the question.

The class immediately became calm and quiet.

Do you think it's right for a boy to say he loves another boy? I asked. He stood there for some seconds before he said "No" I enquired why and he said "because its somehow. It's as if the boy is gay Sir."

Can you say you love a girl? I asked again. He brightened up with a glowing smile, nodded and said "yes sir. Sir, that one is different. Loving a girl is different from loving a boy."

The class went up in an uproar again. I called the student by his name and asked him if he hates the young man who sits next to him in class and coincidentally sleeps next to him at the dormitory. He shook his head and said "No o. I don't hate him"

Will you stab him to death if I give you a knife?

"Jesus!" he exclaimed."No Sir, I can't kill him o"

That means you're willing to protect him outside here if you find people or someone trying to harm him right?

"Yes sir" he looked at his friend and his class mates and continued "he's my best friend, I can't hate him or bring him pains sir."

That means you love him.

He let out a low but resounding "Sir? "

I nodded and continued, yes Jack (not real name), you love him that's why you can't harm him. That's why you care for him and that's why you're ready to stick your head out for him at any time. You'll do same for your elder brother, younger brothers and even your sisters. True or false?

"True Sir"

I pointed at another student and asked him to open his dictionary, get the meaning of the word 'love' and read it out to the class. He did.

I picked another student and asked him what is love? He went mute - the class went mute. I expected the silence so I waited for a few seconds and continued : love is caring about someone or something.

Having a profound feeling of trust, care and security towards someone. I believe the dictionary said something similar, yes?

"Yes it did" they echoed

Now do you feel the aforementioned for only girls or for both sexes you're close to?

The class chanted "both sir. "

Then, there's nothing wrong in saying I love you to a boy. Because just like you can love your brother, you can also love your friends.

They all saw sense to it and agreed it's actually no crime.

Dear you,

The word 'love' wasn''t created to be professed only to the other sex. It's not a boy to girl thing. It's a human to human thing.

We need to teach our children about love. We need to separate the urge and attraction towards the other sex from the word love. We need to teach them the pure form of it and how best to express it. Because in doing so, we'll have a better society and better world to live in.

They need to know that loving is not gender specific, that loving is a human thing, that loving someone for being human is not homosexuality.

We'll both accept that the only thing that can keep us together as humans is not blood ties. It's love and we need to teach it, preach it and live it.