The
Fawn Who Played Hooky
[Truancy]
Once upon
a time, there was a herd of forest deer. In this herd was a wise
and respected teacher, cunning in the ways of deer. He taught
the tricks and strategies of survival to the young fawns.
One day, his
younger sister brought her son to him, to be taught what is so
important for deer. She said, "Oh brother teacher, this is
my son. Please teach him the tricks and strategies of deer."
The teacher said to the fawn, "Very well, you can come at
this time tomorrow for your first lesson."
At first,
the young deer came to the lessons as he was supposed to. But
soon, he became more interested in playing with the other young
bucks and does. He didn't realize how dangerous it could be for
a deer who learned nothing but deer games. So he started cutting
classes. Soon he was playing hooky all the time.
Unfortunately,
one day the fawn who played hooky stepped in a snare and was trapped.
Since he was missing, his mother worried. She went to her brother
the teacher, and asked him, "My dear brother, how is my son?
Have you taught your nephew the tricks and strategies of deer?"
The teacher
replied, "My dear sister, your son was disobedient and unteachable.
Out of respect for you, I tried my best to teach him. But he did
not want to learn the tricks and strategies of deer. He played
hooky! How could I possibly teach him? You are obedient and faithful,
but he is not. It is useless to try to teach him."
Later they
heard the sad news. The stubborn fawn who played hooky had been
trapped and killed by a hunter. He skinned him and took the meat
home to his family.
The
moral is: Nothing can be learned from a
teacher, by one who misses the class.