CBSE Textbook: My Struggle For An Education | Communicative English for Class 10 PDF Download

 Page 1


MAIN COURSE BOOK
N
I
T
U
 
2
Introduction
Discuss the following questions in groups of four. Then share your views with the 
whole class.
 Why do you come to school? \
 Why is it essential to receive education? \
 a) .....................................................
 b) .....................................................
 c) .....................................................
 d) .....................................................
 Do you know of anyone who is not educated? \
 Why did he/ she not receive education? \
 Does he/ she want to receive education now? \
 Why/ why not? \
 What are the reasons that may prevent a child from receiving education? \
Complete the web-chart given below on the basis of your discussion.
41
Education Education Education
A child may not
receive education
because of .........
poverty
Page 2


MAIN COURSE BOOK
N
I
T
U
 
2
Introduction
Discuss the following questions in groups of four. Then share your views with the 
whole class.
 Why do you come to school? \
 Why is it essential to receive education? \
 a) .....................................................
 b) .....................................................
 c) .....................................................
 d) .....................................................
 Do you know of anyone who is not educated? \
 Why did he/ she not receive education? \
 Does he/ she want to receive education now? \
 Why/ why not? \
 What are the reasons that may prevent a child from receiving education? \
Complete the web-chart given below on the basis of your discussion.
41
Education Education Education
A child may not
receive education
because of .........
poverty
UNIT-2
MAIN COURSE BOOK
EDUCATION
A.  My Struggle for an Education
A1.  Read about a boy, Booker T. Washington and his struggle to receive an 
education.
 One day, while at work in the coal-mine, I happened to overhear two miners 
talking about a great school for coloured people somewhere in Virginia. This was 
the first time that I had ever heard anything about any kind of school or college 
that was more pretentious than the little coloured school in our town.
 I heard one tell the other that not only was the school established for the members 
of my race, but that opportunities were provided by which poor but worthy 
students could work out all or a part of the cost of board, and at the same time be 
taught some trade or industry.
 I resolved at once to go to that school, although I had no idea where it was, or how 
many miles away, or how I was going to reach it. I remembered only that I was on 
fire constantly with one ambition, and that was to go to Hampton.
 While at work here, I heard of a vacant position in the household of General Lewis 
Ruffner, the owner of the salt-furnace and coal-mine. Mother applied to her for the 
vacant position. I was hired at a salary of $5 per month. I soon began to learn that 
first of all, she wanted everything kept clean about her, that she wanted things 
done promptly and systematically, and that at the bottom of everything she 
wanted absolute honesty and frankness. Nothing must be slipshod and every 
door, every fence, must be kept in repair.
 The lessons that I learned in the home of Mrs. Ruffner were as valuable to me as 
any education I have ever gotten anywhere since. In the fall of 1872 I determined to 
make an effort to go. The small amount of money that I had earned had been 
consumed by my stepfather and the remainder of the family, with the exception of 
a very few dollars, and so I had very little with which to buy clothes and pay my 
traveling expenses.
 Finally the great day came, and I started for Hampton. The distance from Malden 
to Hampton is about five hundred miles. I had not been away from home many 
hours before it became painfully clear that I did not have enough money to pay my 
fare to Hampton.
42
Page 3


MAIN COURSE BOOK
N
I
T
U
 
2
Introduction
Discuss the following questions in groups of four. Then share your views with the 
whole class.
 Why do you come to school? \
 Why is it essential to receive education? \
 a) .....................................................
 b) .....................................................
 c) .....................................................
 d) .....................................................
 Do you know of anyone who is not educated? \
 Why did he/ she not receive education? \
 Does he/ she want to receive education now? \
 Why/ why not? \
 What are the reasons that may prevent a child from receiving education? \
Complete the web-chart given below on the basis of your discussion.
41
Education Education Education
A child may not
receive education
because of .........
poverty
UNIT-2
MAIN COURSE BOOK
EDUCATION
A.  My Struggle for an Education
A1.  Read about a boy, Booker T. Washington and his struggle to receive an 
education.
 One day, while at work in the coal-mine, I happened to overhear two miners 
talking about a great school for coloured people somewhere in Virginia. This was 
the first time that I had ever heard anything about any kind of school or college 
that was more pretentious than the little coloured school in our town.
 I heard one tell the other that not only was the school established for the members 
of my race, but that opportunities were provided by which poor but worthy 
students could work out all or a part of the cost of board, and at the same time be 
taught some trade or industry.
 I resolved at once to go to that school, although I had no idea where it was, or how 
many miles away, or how I was going to reach it. I remembered only that I was on 
fire constantly with one ambition, and that was to go to Hampton.
 While at work here, I heard of a vacant position in the household of General Lewis 
Ruffner, the owner of the salt-furnace and coal-mine. Mother applied to her for the 
vacant position. I was hired at a salary of $5 per month. I soon began to learn that 
first of all, she wanted everything kept clean about her, that she wanted things 
done promptly and systematically, and that at the bottom of everything she 
wanted absolute honesty and frankness. Nothing must be slipshod and every 
door, every fence, must be kept in repair.
 The lessons that I learned in the home of Mrs. Ruffner were as valuable to me as 
any education I have ever gotten anywhere since. In the fall of 1872 I determined to 
make an effort to go. The small amount of money that I had earned had been 
consumed by my stepfather and the remainder of the family, with the exception of 
a very few dollars, and so I had very little with which to buy clothes and pay my 
traveling expenses.
 Finally the great day came, and I started for Hampton. The distance from Malden 
to Hampton is about five hundred miles. I had not been away from home many 
hours before it became painfully clear that I did not have enough money to pay my 
fare to Hampton.
42
UNIT-2
MAIN COURSE BOOK
Education
43
 By walking, begging rides both in wagons and in cars, in some way, after a number 
of days, I reached the city of Richmond, Virginia, about eighty-two miles from 
Hampton. When I reached there, tired, hungry and dirty, it was late in the night. I 
had never been in a large city, and this rather added to my misery. When I reached 
Richmond I was completely out of money. I had not a single acquaintance in the 
place, and being unused to city ways, I did not know where to go.
 Just about the time when I reached extreme physical exhaustion, I came upon a 
portion of a street where the broad sidewalk was considerably elevated. I waited for 
a few minutes till I was sure that no passers-by could see me, and then crept under 
the sidewalk and lay for the night upon the ground, with my satchel of clothing for 
a pillow. Nearly all night I could hear the tramp of feet over my head. The next 
morning I noticed that I was near a large ship.
 I went at once to the vessel and asked the captain to permit me to help unload the 
vessel in order to get money for food. The captain, a white man, who seemed to be 
kind-hearted, consented. I worked long enough to earn money for my breakfast, 
and it seems to me, as I remember it now, to have been about the best breakfast 
that I have ever eaten. My work pleased the captain so well that he told me if I 
Page 4


MAIN COURSE BOOK
N
I
T
U
 
2
Introduction
Discuss the following questions in groups of four. Then share your views with the 
whole class.
 Why do you come to school? \
 Why is it essential to receive education? \
 a) .....................................................
 b) .....................................................
 c) .....................................................
 d) .....................................................
 Do you know of anyone who is not educated? \
 Why did he/ she not receive education? \
 Does he/ she want to receive education now? \
 Why/ why not? \
 What are the reasons that may prevent a child from receiving education? \
Complete the web-chart given below on the basis of your discussion.
41
Education Education Education
A child may not
receive education
because of .........
poverty
UNIT-2
MAIN COURSE BOOK
EDUCATION
A.  My Struggle for an Education
A1.  Read about a boy, Booker T. Washington and his struggle to receive an 
education.
 One day, while at work in the coal-mine, I happened to overhear two miners 
talking about a great school for coloured people somewhere in Virginia. This was 
the first time that I had ever heard anything about any kind of school or college 
that was more pretentious than the little coloured school in our town.
 I heard one tell the other that not only was the school established for the members 
of my race, but that opportunities were provided by which poor but worthy 
students could work out all or a part of the cost of board, and at the same time be 
taught some trade or industry.
 I resolved at once to go to that school, although I had no idea where it was, or how 
many miles away, or how I was going to reach it. I remembered only that I was on 
fire constantly with one ambition, and that was to go to Hampton.
 While at work here, I heard of a vacant position in the household of General Lewis 
Ruffner, the owner of the salt-furnace and coal-mine. Mother applied to her for the 
vacant position. I was hired at a salary of $5 per month. I soon began to learn that 
first of all, she wanted everything kept clean about her, that she wanted things 
done promptly and systematically, and that at the bottom of everything she 
wanted absolute honesty and frankness. Nothing must be slipshod and every 
door, every fence, must be kept in repair.
 The lessons that I learned in the home of Mrs. Ruffner were as valuable to me as 
any education I have ever gotten anywhere since. In the fall of 1872 I determined to 
make an effort to go. The small amount of money that I had earned had been 
consumed by my stepfather and the remainder of the family, with the exception of 
a very few dollars, and so I had very little with which to buy clothes and pay my 
traveling expenses.
 Finally the great day came, and I started for Hampton. The distance from Malden 
to Hampton is about five hundred miles. I had not been away from home many 
hours before it became painfully clear that I did not have enough money to pay my 
fare to Hampton.
42
UNIT-2
MAIN COURSE BOOK
Education
43
 By walking, begging rides both in wagons and in cars, in some way, after a number 
of days, I reached the city of Richmond, Virginia, about eighty-two miles from 
Hampton. When I reached there, tired, hungry and dirty, it was late in the night. I 
had never been in a large city, and this rather added to my misery. When I reached 
Richmond I was completely out of money. I had not a single acquaintance in the 
place, and being unused to city ways, I did not know where to go.
 Just about the time when I reached extreme physical exhaustion, I came upon a 
portion of a street where the broad sidewalk was considerably elevated. I waited for 
a few minutes till I was sure that no passers-by could see me, and then crept under 
the sidewalk and lay for the night upon the ground, with my satchel of clothing for 
a pillow. Nearly all night I could hear the tramp of feet over my head. The next 
morning I noticed that I was near a large ship.
 I went at once to the vessel and asked the captain to permit me to help unload the 
vessel in order to get money for food. The captain, a white man, who seemed to be 
kind-hearted, consented. I worked long enough to earn money for my breakfast, 
and it seems to me, as I remember it now, to have been about the best breakfast 
that I have ever eaten. My work pleased the captain so well that he told me if I 
UNIT-2
MAIN COURSE BOOK
EDUCATION
desired I could continue working for a small amount per day. This I was very glad 
to do.
 I continued to sleep under the same sidewalk that gave me shelter the first night I 
was in Richmond. Many years after that, the coloured citizens of Richmond very 
kindly tendered me a reception which was not far from the spot where I had slept 
the first night I spent in that city. I thanked the captain of the vessel for his 
kindness, and started again. Without any unusual occurrence I reached Hampton 
with a surplus of exactly fifty cents with which to begin my education.
 I presented myself before the head teacher for assignment to a class. Having been 
so long without proper food, a bath and change of clothing, I did not, of course, 
make a very favourable impression upon her.
 For some time she neither refused to admit me nor did she decide in my favour, 
and I continued to linger about her. After some hours had passed, the head 
teacher said to me: "The adjoining recitation-room needs sweeping. Take the 
broom and sweep it."
 I swept the recitation room three times, then I got a dusting cloth, and I dusted it 
four times. All the woodwork around the walls, every bench, table, and desk, I 
went over four times with my dusting cloth. Besides, every piece of furniture had 
been moved and every closet and corner in the room had been thoroughly cleaned. 
I had the feeling that in a large measure my future depended upon the impression I 
made upon the teacher in the cleaning of that room. When 1 was through I 
reported to the head teacher. She was a "Yankee" woman who knew just where to 
look for dirt. She went into the room and inspected the floor and closets; then she 
took her handkerchief and rubbed it on the woodwork about the walls and over the 
table and benches. When she was unable to find one bit of dirt on the floor or a 
particle of dust on any of the furniture, she quietly remarked, "I guess you will do 
to enter this institution."
 I was one of the happiest-souls on earth. The sweeping of that room was my college 
examination. I have passed several examinations since then, but I always felt that 
this was the best one I had ever passed .........
44
Page 5


MAIN COURSE BOOK
N
I
T
U
 
2
Introduction
Discuss the following questions in groups of four. Then share your views with the 
whole class.
 Why do you come to school? \
 Why is it essential to receive education? \
 a) .....................................................
 b) .....................................................
 c) .....................................................
 d) .....................................................
 Do you know of anyone who is not educated? \
 Why did he/ she not receive education? \
 Does he/ she want to receive education now? \
 Why/ why not? \
 What are the reasons that may prevent a child from receiving education? \
Complete the web-chart given below on the basis of your discussion.
41
Education Education Education
A child may not
receive education
because of .........
poverty
UNIT-2
MAIN COURSE BOOK
EDUCATION
A.  My Struggle for an Education
A1.  Read about a boy, Booker T. Washington and his struggle to receive an 
education.
 One day, while at work in the coal-mine, I happened to overhear two miners 
talking about a great school for coloured people somewhere in Virginia. This was 
the first time that I had ever heard anything about any kind of school or college 
that was more pretentious than the little coloured school in our town.
 I heard one tell the other that not only was the school established for the members 
of my race, but that opportunities were provided by which poor but worthy 
students could work out all or a part of the cost of board, and at the same time be 
taught some trade or industry.
 I resolved at once to go to that school, although I had no idea where it was, or how 
many miles away, or how I was going to reach it. I remembered only that I was on 
fire constantly with one ambition, and that was to go to Hampton.
 While at work here, I heard of a vacant position in the household of General Lewis 
Ruffner, the owner of the salt-furnace and coal-mine. Mother applied to her for the 
vacant position. I was hired at a salary of $5 per month. I soon began to learn that 
first of all, she wanted everything kept clean about her, that she wanted things 
done promptly and systematically, and that at the bottom of everything she 
wanted absolute honesty and frankness. Nothing must be slipshod and every 
door, every fence, must be kept in repair.
 The lessons that I learned in the home of Mrs. Ruffner were as valuable to me as 
any education I have ever gotten anywhere since. In the fall of 1872 I determined to 
make an effort to go. The small amount of money that I had earned had been 
consumed by my stepfather and the remainder of the family, with the exception of 
a very few dollars, and so I had very little with which to buy clothes and pay my 
traveling expenses.
 Finally the great day came, and I started for Hampton. The distance from Malden 
to Hampton is about five hundred miles. I had not been away from home many 
hours before it became painfully clear that I did not have enough money to pay my 
fare to Hampton.
42
UNIT-2
MAIN COURSE BOOK
Education
43
 By walking, begging rides both in wagons and in cars, in some way, after a number 
of days, I reached the city of Richmond, Virginia, about eighty-two miles from 
Hampton. When I reached there, tired, hungry and dirty, it was late in the night. I 
had never been in a large city, and this rather added to my misery. When I reached 
Richmond I was completely out of money. I had not a single acquaintance in the 
place, and being unused to city ways, I did not know where to go.
 Just about the time when I reached extreme physical exhaustion, I came upon a 
portion of a street where the broad sidewalk was considerably elevated. I waited for 
a few minutes till I was sure that no passers-by could see me, and then crept under 
the sidewalk and lay for the night upon the ground, with my satchel of clothing for 
a pillow. Nearly all night I could hear the tramp of feet over my head. The next 
morning I noticed that I was near a large ship.
 I went at once to the vessel and asked the captain to permit me to help unload the 
vessel in order to get money for food. The captain, a white man, who seemed to be 
kind-hearted, consented. I worked long enough to earn money for my breakfast, 
and it seems to me, as I remember it now, to have been about the best breakfast 
that I have ever eaten. My work pleased the captain so well that he told me if I 
UNIT-2
MAIN COURSE BOOK
EDUCATION
desired I could continue working for a small amount per day. This I was very glad 
to do.
 I continued to sleep under the same sidewalk that gave me shelter the first night I 
was in Richmond. Many years after that, the coloured citizens of Richmond very 
kindly tendered me a reception which was not far from the spot where I had slept 
the first night I spent in that city. I thanked the captain of the vessel for his 
kindness, and started again. Without any unusual occurrence I reached Hampton 
with a surplus of exactly fifty cents with which to begin my education.
 I presented myself before the head teacher for assignment to a class. Having been 
so long without proper food, a bath and change of clothing, I did not, of course, 
make a very favourable impression upon her.
 For some time she neither refused to admit me nor did she decide in my favour, 
and I continued to linger about her. After some hours had passed, the head 
teacher said to me: "The adjoining recitation-room needs sweeping. Take the 
broom and sweep it."
 I swept the recitation room three times, then I got a dusting cloth, and I dusted it 
four times. All the woodwork around the walls, every bench, table, and desk, I 
went over four times with my dusting cloth. Besides, every piece of furniture had 
been moved and every closet and corner in the room had been thoroughly cleaned. 
I had the feeling that in a large measure my future depended upon the impression I 
made upon the teacher in the cleaning of that room. When 1 was through I 
reported to the head teacher. She was a "Yankee" woman who knew just where to 
look for dirt. She went into the room and inspected the floor and closets; then she 
took her handkerchief and rubbed it on the woodwork about the walls and over the 
table and benches. When she was unable to find one bit of dirt on the floor or a 
particle of dust on any of the furniture, she quietly remarked, "I guess you will do 
to enter this institution."
 I was one of the happiest-souls on earth. The sweeping of that room was my college 
examination. I have passed several examinations since then, but I always felt that 
this was the best one I had ever passed .........
44
UNIT-2
MAIN COURSE BOOK
Education
45
A.2.  Answer the following based on your reading of the passage above:
1. The boy was inspired to go to Hampton because of ………………. 
2. After working in the coal mine, where did the boy work next and what did he learn? 
3. What happened to the money he had earned at Mrs Ruffner's house?
4. How far was Hampton from Malden? Was he able to hire a coach? What did he do 
and where did he reach?
5. What did he do in Richmond in order to earn for his journey to Hampton?
6. Why did the writer not make a favourable impression on the head teacher? 
7. What did he have to go through in order to get admission to the Hampton 
Institute?      
8. The names of some places are given below. Think of the main event that took place 
there and write them in the order given in the story.
 a) Hampton 
 b) General Lewis Ruffner's house
 c) coal mine 
 d) city of Richmond in Virginia.
A.3.  Which of the following qualities best describe the boy's character? Give 
evidence from the story to support your answer.
  kind  polite  hard-working 
  careful  friendly  respectful 
  generous honest frank eager to learn
 Quality   Evidence from the story
 \
 \
 \
 …. \