From Mxyzptlk Sent Fri, Mar 12th 1999, 00:17
From Mxyzptlk Sent Fri, Mar 12th 1999, 00:17
My addition to this discussion would be to emphasize that there is input from
the parent concerning what the child is exposed to...an interpretive framework,
if you will. One of the great fallacies of our day and age (imo, of course)
goes something like "if people have the right INFORMATION, they will make the
correct decision". Bull. People are bombarded with all kinds of input in the
guise of a panacea (e.g., show children how to use condoms and they will...tell
them smoking causes cancer and they'll quit, etc.) and we still continue to do
whatever we please (and OF COURSE I'm generalizing and NOT saying that
education is completely ineffective or shouldn't be pursued). On top of this, I
find it odd that so many shrinks who follow and accept the Piagets, Kohlenbergs
and Eriksons will turn around and recommend exposing children to whatever and
"letting them make their own decisions". There are some decisions that children
simply are not mature enough to make (I'm always amused when I see some person
trying to reason with a 5 year old in a store who is climbing up on a shelf and
tossing sale items at people and screaming at the top of his/her lungs). Again,
I'm not saying anyone should lock their kids up in a closet until they are 20
and then expect them to deal with a wacky world, but I would excercise caution
with regard to expecting children to handle and process exposure to certain
behaviors at an early age. They'll probably be exposed to it soon enough. I DO
think it important that the adult is there to discuss these things responsibly
when the time comes. A lot is going to depend on the specific child as to when
that is.
jeff
xxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx wrote:
> Irene McC wrote:
>
> >
> > While I certainly don't classify myself within the above category, I
> > feel that children can only benefit by being exposed to as wide a
> > spectrum of our community. The recreational use of drugs has
> > become part of our culture - whether it be frowned upon by society
> > or not, legal or illegal, they are here and widespread - and kids will,
> > at some stage, be forced to make a decision themselves whether
> > or not to "experiment". Surely it is far wiser to come to this
> > process prepared with knowledge, rather than to believe the
> > mumbo jumbo that some sleazy pusher is telling you? As the
> > graffiti goes: say KNOW to drugs.
>
> Absolute yes. That goes not only for drugs of any kind. It goes for sex
> and
> any issues normally prohibited for children view. No only because the
> earlier kid learns about that the more time he has to adaptate for that
> and
> KNOW about it when he encounters it in his life. Also because he learns
> about it from his parents the main source for trustworthy information
> for
> children. Many psyciatrists advise to learn children about such
> contradictory issues in full and as straight as possible so that they
> get
> objective opinion and not learn about junk from junky on the street
> whose
> responsibility before youngsters died ages ago.
>
> > In this country of political turmoil and violence (here in South Africa
> > one woman is
> > raped every 54 seconds : those are the officially reported crimes on
> > record)
>
> Damn. That shocks. I live in crime ridden country but such figures would
> send shivers to much more callous person than me.
>
> > I'd really be interested in hearing your thoughts and comments.
> >
> > Thank you!
> >
> > I
> > *
>
> Alien
--
jeff
...Great times and noodle salad.
dancing/about/architecture "...with wandering steps and slow..." ICQ904008