"There is nothing new under the sun," states Ecclesiastes 1:9. This is certainly true of the nature-nurture debate, the modern name for the ageless argument about the importance of learning in the development of the child. While one side argues that the development of the child is mainly a process of maturation, with learning playing no more than a supportive role, the other side maintains that learning determines the entire course of a child's future.
The wise king Solomon certainly supported the nurture assumption when he stated in Proverbs 22:6, "Train the child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." The famous French philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau, on the other hand, posited a natural development of the child. In fact, he wanted the child to be protected from the influences of society so that he can grow up as Nature intended him to be.
A thorough study of feral children, and children who were raised or kept in extreme isolation, makes it difficult NOT to support the nurture assumption.
FERAL CHILDREN AND WHAT WE LEARN FROM THEM
Probably the best-known story of feral children is that of the two girls, Amala and Kamala, who were raised by a she-wolf. In 1920 the reverend J. A. L. Singh saw a mother wolf and cubs, two of which had long, matted hair and looked human. After considerable preparation and difficulties, the two human creatures were captured. They turned out to be two girls whose ages were assessed by Singh at about eight years and one and a half years respectively.
The creatures were taken to an orphanage in Mindapore, India, where the Reverend and his wife were stationed. Singh described them as "wolfish" in appearance and behavior. They walked on all fours and had calluses on their knees and palms from doing so. They were fond of raw meat and stole it when the occasion presented itself. They licked all liquids with their tongues and ate their food in a crouched position. Their tongues permanently hung out of their thick, red lips, and they panted just like wolves. They never slept after midnight and prowled and howled at night. They could move very fast, just like squirrels, and it was difficult to overtake them. They shunned human society altogether. If approached, they made faces and sometimes bared their teeth. Their hearing was very acute and they could smell meat at a great distance. Furthermore, while they could not see well during the day, they could orientate themselves very well at night. In September 1921 both girls became ill, and Amala, the younger, died.
There are many other stories of feral children in the literature, amongst others the story of a boy who lived in Syria, who ate grass and could leap like an antelope, as well as of a girl, who lived in the forests in Indonesia for six years after she had fallen into a river. She walked like an ape and her teeth were as sharp as a razor.
These stories do far more than just to confirm the important role of education. They actually show that a human being not only can but MUST be educated to become a human being at all. A bear does not have to learn to be a bear; he simply is one. A duck needs no lessons in duckmanship. And an ant leads a perfectly satisfactory life without any instruction from other ants. Even when isolated from birth, animals usually retain clearly recognizable instincts. A cat that is raised among dogs, will still behave like a cat. He won't try to bite the postman. There are only a few exceptions, such as the lion cub, which would not be able to hunt the wildebeest when raised in isolation.
Man, however, enters this world very poorly equipped. The knowledge a child needs to become fully human is not dormant. Everything the child eventually knows, or can do, must be learned. This of course excludes natural body functions, such as breathing, as well as the reflexes, for example the involuntary closing of the eye when an object approaches it. Everything else, however, must be learned.
A child must LEARN to walk erect, to talk, to eat with a knife and fork, to catch a ball, to ride a bicycle, to swim, et cetera. The mastery of these skills does not fall from the sky. A child must also learn to sustain his attention, to listen when spoken to, to follow through on instructions, to control his behavior and to sit still and remain in his seat when the situation so requires. These abilities, which play a determining role in school success, also do not happen automatically. The same applies to qualities such as friendliness, thankfulness, honesty, truthfulness, unselfishness and respect for authority. All these skills and qualities ? and many more ? must be learned for the child to eventually lead a happy and successful adult life.
PARENTS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT EDUCATORS
The road to adulthood can be compared to a traveler who wants to travel from one place to another, but does not know the way. He therefore needs directions. If he receives the wrong directions, he will never reach his destination. A child who enters this world is in exactly the same situation. He also has a destination ? he must become a grown-up man or a grown-up woman ? but he has no idea how to get there. Consequently, he needs to be directed by grown-up persons, who have already traveled along this route, and who therefore can lead him to adulthood.
The problem is that most people have come to identify the term "education" and "learning" only with schools and schooling. The school has grown from the modest institution it was in the nineteenth century to one that is blamed for all the ills of society and is seen as potentially capable of curing them. The school's functions and influence have been extended ? some would say over-extended ? and therefore the school is exceedingly vulnerable to criticism. It is, however, very important to note that the whole of education does not take place in the school. The school is especially responsible for the FORMAL aspects of education, namely subject instruction, in order to provide society with an able workforce. The parents, on the other hand, are the PRIMARY educators of their child. And, as the primary educators of their child, THEY have the greatest responsibly to direct their child to adulthood.
Being a parent is a tremendous privilege. But it is also a tremendous responsibility. Therefore parents must make sure that they are properly equipped for the task at hand because, as the late violin teacher Shinichi Suzuki so rightly stated, "The destiny of children lies in the hands of their parents."
About The Author
Susan du Plessis is the co-author of "The Myth of ADHD and Other Learning Disabilities; Parenting without Ritalin," and the author or co-author of four other books on learning and learning disabilities. She has been involved in helping children reach their full potential for 15 years. She holds BD and BA Hons (psychology). Visit her website at http://www.audiblox2000.com
Wood Dale Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareAh, potty training! Go to a local bookseller and you... Read More
Many of us have grown up drinking caffeinated diet sodas... Read More
To every thing there is a season, and a time... Read More
Ask any teacher or adolescent counselor what the most disturbing... Read More
Life is funny.My twenty-year-old daughter, Melanie, has a her new... Read More
At age seven months in the womb, humans begin language... Read More
Do you want to create a deeper, more loving relationship... Read More
You know that children can get into trouble. The older... Read More
Is there a fathering instinct?Celebrated child development expert Erik Erikson... Read More
Arabella Greatorex, owner of The Natural Nursery, reports on the... Read More
Should a parent give a child a tangible reward when... Read More
Public education in the United States has never been equal... Read More
Ah, there is nothing like being an expectant mom. Along... Read More
There are two methods for teaching children to read; whole... Read More
Minus all meningitis thoughts. The flu symptons were strong. Headache,... Read More
Are you feeling overwhelmed being a parent? Do you want... Read More
Most of us when asked what we want our children... Read More
It's hard to explain to the uninitiated the changes that... Read More
The legend and myth of the Tooth Fairy is a... Read More
How should one look upon Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)... Read More
Do you want your child to cooperate with you more?Children... Read More
Many children enjoy TV, and they can learn from it.... Read More
The time you will need to teach your children the... Read More
Teens don't learn responsibility overnight. If you haven't been working... Read More
When growing up, my father frequently reminded me to "pay... Read More
Antigo wedding limo ..Coping with a child's bad behavior, perhaps more than any... Read More
One of my first memories of childhood is that of... Read More
Becoming a stepmother can undoubtedly be one of the most... Read More
Homes should be run by parents, not children. So many... Read More
There are millions of young children in this country who... Read More
Are you looking for the Ultimate Airplane Themed Party Games... Read More
Tripping over the shoes and toys that seem to clutter... Read More
Life is funny.My twenty-year-old daughter, Melanie, has a her new... Read More
Salon visits can be scary experiences for small children: They... Read More
When you're a parent it's a difficult decision to know... Read More
My oldest boy is fifteen and was a real jerk... Read More
Impulsivity is one of the hallmarks of people with Attention... Read More
(Isaiah 11:6 KJV) The wolf also shall dwell with the... Read More
You can learn a lot from children.The best part of... Read More
I had just completed a session with 17-year old Julie... Read More
Although, not a well publicized statistic, childhood obesity has more... Read More
It was a day that I will forever be etched... Read More
How would you like to have a closer relationship with... Read More
Did you know that the school system is only able... Read More
Dining in a restaurant with kids can be very enervating... Read More
I know this Mom. She homeschools her 5 children, plus... Read More
It's that time of year when mom and dad look... Read More
Rule #1 Make Every Bite Count!Everything your child eats should... Read More
At first I thought of titling this article "The Lazy... Read More
'Whose room is it anyway?'If you have a teenager, you're... Read More
Parenting |