The Blame Game-Mr Nobody is Murphy

Mr Nobody is Murphy....

True, I grant you this.

"Mr Nobody" is one nursery rhyme that we learned in Standard 1 or 2 in the past.

Even the kindee could have used it to teach the kids English at an early age then.

The question that needs to be asked is why such a poem is used in Lower Secondary School? Do we need to change our curriculum evaluators or overhaul the panel that approved this poem for study? Or is our level of English this low now?

Be that as it may,putting the students through this poem  must have been one big mockery. It is as good as teaching them Twinkle,Twinkle Little Star or London Bridge is Falling Down. What a laugh!

I wonder what is the real intent of teaching Mr. Nobody to a secondary kid. The only message is that this is a blame game and no one will own up to what they have done. Perhaps it reflects the adult society where no one will to take the blame for something that has gone wrong. They will twist and turn and blame others if  they need a scapegoat.

Anyway, let us look for some  redeeming aspects of this poem, if any.

Firstly, this poem has become too folksy as no one even know who the real poet is.

Secondly, conjuring a funny little man that can be held responsible for all the commissions and omissions is certainly interesting and fun for the kids.

I guess adults do conjure up excuses to their failings such as the lack of experience, skill-sets,office politics, poor language skills, lack of funds, lack of personnel, poor equipment and Murphy's Law for  their low productivity, poor results, fumbles and failure to meet key performance indicators.

So, if ever I want to give a name to Mr. Nobody, it will have to be Mr. Murphy!