"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
house refresh service Morton Grove ..Let's face it: raising children can be quite the adventure.... Read More
"No thank you. Don't bother to send me the report... Read More
So you want to be a mum? Every time you... Read More
Information is gold when you are adopted. Every tiny piece... Read More
Are you being smart about water conservation? Do you consider... Read More
It can be difficult on all family members to have... Read More
Anyone can become a parent; there are no tests or... Read More
"If a kid asks where rain comes from, I think... Read More
In the news, we hear and see an increasing number... Read More
Your child's first year of school should be a fun... Read More
Is there a way to build a robot to help... Read More
"Do not think that love, in order to be genuine,... Read More
Every school year parents and students dutifully trudge through the... Read More
Dear MomOn this day set aside to honour "Mother's" let... Read More
Until the moment I became a mother, I couldn't quite... Read More
Do you struggle to get your child to bed at... Read More
We are all so very happy to see that the... Read More
Now I know that is not how the song goes,... Read More
"Get down from the table top right now! What are... Read More
Home schooling benefits children. As a parent, I feel it... Read More
Strattera came out around January of 2003, and is becoming... Read More
Who Can Register A Birth? The child's mother... Read More
Ask any teacher or adolescent counselor what the most disturbing... Read More
Everyone knows that exercise is good for your health. Exercising... Read More
Depending on where you live school will be starting this... Read More
cleaning service near Mundelein ..The subject of competition is one that provokes some pretty... Read More
In an actual war, to be attacked means to have... Read More
You're trying to catch up on some sleep on a... Read More
Unfortunately each year many young children drown in swimming pools,... Read More
The cruel callous remarks made by our offspring can sometimes... Read More
More and more parents are expressing their concerns about how... Read More
There is nothing quite like hiking with small children. The... Read More
Would you like your child to be the best that... Read More
1. Tell me something you like about yourself? Help your... Read More
Memorizing math facts is a necessary part of elementary school.... Read More
Congratulations on your new baby! You have just brought your... Read More
IntroductionChildren are the gifts of God to parents. That young... Read More
"Money is tight, and my husband's obsessed with doing everything... Read More
Does music need to be "dumbed-down" for kids? The answer... Read More
Peaceful Parenting? ideas are very different from other kinds of... Read More
A number of scientific studies have shown the way a... Read More
Encouragement comes when you focus on your child's assets and... Read More
When you talk about multiply your child's intelligence, you can't... Read More
Have you ever had this struggle with your teens? Did... Read More
Many companies advertise their products as being educational. How much... Read More
Most parents at some stage are driven to distraction by... Read More
On a bright Sunday morning, a couple of weeks ago,... Read More
Arabella Greatorex, owner of The Natural Nursery, reports on the... Read More
"I don't know and I don't care."I've heard those words... Read More
A parent writes in, ``We are having a hard time... Read More
Parenting |