In response to my column last week on the skills that parents wish their children would graduate from school with, a European diplomat provided me with an insight into his own experience acquiring such skills while growing up in Switzerland. He said: “Your lines reminded me exactly of my education some 50 years ago in my country.” He then went on to input his personal journey in quest of the skills I had outlined. With regard to language skills, he said: “This is the only part I missed in my education. I took lessons in French for five years, but could not say a phrase when I went to Brussels years later.” Time management: “Side activities, such as Scouts, music lessons, homework, helping my father in the garden, taught me early on to manage my time.” Cognitive and critical thinking skills: “By the age of 17, I was already writing articles on politics in the local newspaper of Zug. I instigated a referendum against a new taxation law at 19, all during my apprenticeship. The secretary of the government of the canton of Zug asked me once, after I expressed a viewpoint contrary to his, if I would trade places with him.” Appreciation of the arts: “At the end of our eighth year of school, we had to prepare for a stage play ‘Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves'. The teacher said the one who wrote the best composition about what Ali Baba saw when he was confronted with the treasures could have the main role as Ali Baba. I wrote the best essay and was able to take that part. I was so excited that after the play ended on our last school day, I got sick and could not attend the final trip the class made. Later I again played main roles, but with less excitement.” Budgetary training and fiscal responsibility: “Between the ages of 12 and 14, I helped clean the slaughterhouse in our village and earned a small hourly payment plus meat for the family for the weekend. I also joined the waste disposal company collecting rubbish from houses. I used to stink horribly when I came home in the evening and had to undress outside, but I earned my own pocket money.” Information technology: “In those days, there were no computers, but I constructed my own radio transmitter so I could listen to it in the garden. When computers were introduced, it was natural that I was one of the first to use one in my ministry.” Driver's education/training: “After the first day of school at the age of seven, the local policeman took us children outside and taught us how to cross the street and watch for traffic. Later, working with a farmer, I learnt to drive in the fields in his old Willys Jeep.” Auto shop: “Cleaning cars and changing the oil and tires were things that I had always done myself. Later, on my first diplomatic posting, because of the bad quality of gasoline, I adjusted the ignition point myself so that the motor would not knock.” Home maintenance: “Opening a sink, because a ring had fallen into the pipe, extending electricity connections, etc. was always done by ourselves, even though it was illegal not to call a specialist.” General knowledge: “As a member of the Scouts and later as group leader, the exchange of knowledge with other villages was common.” CPR and first aid: “We were encouraged to first take a training course for first aid and then join the first aid association. The main task during those years was to assist in blood donations, including shaking the bag and slowly filling it with the blood of the donor. At events such as sports, festivals, meetings we were on standby for any casualties.” Interpersonal skills: “Because of the different activities we did at a young age, we learned how to interact with our peers and elders.” Physical education: “We learned how to swim in the second primary class. To encourage practicing long distance swimming, we would note down all the distances we swam during a summer period. At the age of 16, boys started to join pre-military courses (mountaineering, sailing, skiing, radio transmission) in order to prepare for the appropriate military unit for the compulsory military training - infantry, air defense, air force, signals, transport, etc.” Discipline: “Discipline was taught to us mostly by the example of our elders. No class was ever stopped because of the absence of a teacher or because of hot weather or any other reason. Absence from school had to be justified by a medical certificate; otherwise parents would have a problem with the school administration. I never I saw my father absent without reason from his work at the railway.” He concludes: “School and most of the activities were free of charge; parents did not have to pay. I had a good, full and interesting time growing up and learning. I pity many of the young people of today who are deprived of what we had in our youth.” Perhaps when one reads about this diplomat's journey in acquiring the skills I mentioned in my previous column, one can understand why his country is considered among the more developed ones. The road to such greatness begins at an early age.
