The First Grader Page #3

A goat cannot write his name.

They must study hard,

or they'll be like me...

an old man no better than that goat.

You know, goats are

very clever animals.

They never give up.

We can learn a very good lesson

from them.

Class, I have

an important announcement.

From now on, Maruge is going to be

my teaching assistant.

Well done, well done, Maruge.

I'm impressed.

How did you get them all

to behave so well?

I told them if they didn't behave,

I'll clobber them with my stick.

Maruge!

Wait a minute,

there's Mr. Maruge!

There's Mr. Maruge.

Mr. Maruge, Mr. Maruge.

Alright, alright!

Please, please, if we're going to do this,

let us at least do it in an orderly way.

If you want to speak to Maruge,

one question at a time.

His hearing is poor. Please.

Mr. Maruge, CNN Washington.

Mr. Maruge, why didn't you go to school

when you were younger?

There was no free education for

black people when Maruge was a boy.

What is the motivation now?

What did he say?

He says, "The power is in the pen."

To read and understand,

it's very important.

This is one way of finishing poverty

among us.

And the Bible... I don't trust

those preachers in the churches.

Who does?

Mr. Maruge, BBC London.

Is the Kenyan Government doing

enough for education in this country?

Yes, yes... free education! For all.

Mr. Maruge, NTV Nairobi.

Do you think this is right?

She's just drawing attention to herself

and the school.

It's not right for anybody.

Alfred.

Hey?

You are the most negative person

I know.

This is a good thing for the school.

Just relax.

People, the world has gone

absolutely mad.

And look, 'New York Times',

'L.A. Times', 'Kenya Times',

all the 'Times',

BBC, 'Daily Telegraph'.

The world is finally talking,

"Maruge, Maruge!"

And not to forget the teacher

who took Maruge to school at 84 years.

It's absolutely crazy!

Now, this mzee was once

a Mau Mau veteran, war fighter,

who wanted Kenya to say...

'Can'.

Now, despite his age,

he too is demanding free education

and head teacher Jane Obinchu

has welcomed him through the doors.

Many parents are outraged

and feel that such a valuable place

should not be wasted

on such an old man.

And, as feelings run increasingly high,

this controversy is no doubt set to grow.

Habari yako?

You don't care about our children.

You only care about yourself.

You want your face in the newspapers

so that you can fill your pockets

with money.

How dare you say that to me!

Every single child is important to me,

including your son.

- Habari yako, Polo?

- Mzuri.

Mau Mau... have you seen? The title?

Have you seen that?

Have you seen the title?

Gone back to school.

- How old are you?

- 55.

I don't want my son

being mixed with old men!

OK, everybody, please.

I know that you are all upset.

Please, would you listen to me?

I think that we have a lot to learn

from Maruge.

He's helping us.

OK? The children have a lot

that they can learn from the old.

I don't want him to teach my son, huh?

Who is he? Who is he?

Where is the teachers?

Now look at this. Surely.

What do you think you're doing?

You're running a circus!

I told you to get rid of

that old man.

You know what, Mr. Kipruto?

Why don't you just come clean?

Is it because Maruge is old

or is it because he's Kikuyu

that you don't want him here?

This is not about tribes,

Mrs. Obinchu!

Who do you think you are,

dictating the agenda?

You're an employee.

You do as I tell you.

Now, I'm warning you one last time.

He goes to the adult school!

He's got no money, Mr. Kipruto.

He can't go to school anywhere else.

He will have money soon.

This Kikuyu government is going to give

the Mau Mau compensation money.

Compensation for what?

For killing their own people?

Mr. Kipruto...

...can't we just put the past behind us?

The past is always present,

Mrs. Obinchu.

Never forget that.

Maruge.

Ask her.

Ask her, is this her husband?

Ask her, Kikuyu?

Take the child off her.

Take this baby off her.

Hey, Kamau.

Look. Look at his grades.

He can't keep up with the others.

Meaning that my son

is stupid?

I'm not saying that your son

is stupid, Mr. Chege.

All I'm saying is that

in our school

there's a certain level of attainment

that he needs to achieve

in order to move on to the next class.

Otherwise, he repeats the same class

or goes to special school.

My son has a right

for free education!

Do I make

myself clear?

I understand perfectly,

Mr. Chege.

We're helping him

in every way we can.

You are not

helping him! Huh?!

You're busy wasting your time

with that stupid old man.

Look, I'm running

a shop, huh?

And my son must be extremely good

in mathematics and science.

This is not fair and this is not right!

Mr. Chege, I...

We'll deal with this

when you get home.

Well, I guess we know he can dance.

How's he getting on in the classroom?

His maths is good,

but he really came here to read,

and it needs a lot more work.

It's about finding time

for everyone.

Come, come, come. Back to class!

Let's go to class.

OK, Maruge, sound this for me.

- And put it together...

- 'Sat'.

Wonderful! Very good.

'Bat'.

Well done, Maruge.

That is very good, very good.

OK, let's move on to the next one.

- Together?

- 'Cat'.

Excellent, Maruge.

Very good.

Kamau?

We are working here.

Please go away.

School is over. Please go home.

Come, come.

'Mat'.

Oh, Maruge,

you have done so well.

Very good!

OK, let's go over our sounds

and then we'll finish there

for today, OK?

'Ah', 'buh', 'kuh', 'duh'...

- Hello?

- Jane Obinchu?

Yes?

So now you are giving private lessons

to the old man, eh?

Who is this?

We are watching you.

We know you are alone in that house.

You'll want to take care.

Walalaa! Hoo, hoo, hoo.

Wa wa wa wa!

Now, that's called money on wheels...

mobile money.

Politicians... what do they want now?

When I grow up,

that's the kind of car I'd like to drive,

but not as a politician.

# Welcome, everybody

# It's good to see you here

# Welcome, everybody

# It's good to see you here

# Welcome here today

# Welcome, everybody

# It's good to see you here... #

Welcome. We are honoured

to have you here.

- Greetings from Nairobi.

- Asante.

- How are the kids?

- Very good, very good.

# It's good to see you here... #

This is wonderful! You have put us

on the map, Mrs. Obinchu.

- And we are very grateful.

- Asante.

No water, no electricity

and right in the middle of nowhere.

David, bring the sweets.

Mr. Maruge, nice to meet you.

- Nice to meet you.

- Asante.

You are doing us proud.

Hello, you young ones!

Mrs. Obinchu?

Can we talk?

Yes, of course.

So what is our cut?

Excuse me?

Look, don't act stupid with me, b*tch.

The press are giving you money

for Maruge.

I want my share.

# It's good to see you here

# Welcome, everybody

# It's good to see you here

# Welcome, everybody... #

I've got politicians turning up

at school.

One of their aides thinks the press

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