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Indoctrinating Your Children
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Andrew Sullivan links to this crazy-ass children's book with the following description:
Um...okay.
One of Sullivan's readers writes:
True enough, but I don't know, maybe we should think something of ascribing religious, or any other dogmatic beliefs, to our youngest children.
Might it not be a good idea to leave certain questions open until the child is old enough to make them on their own? Certainly you need to be assertive and dogmatic about stuff like safety. A kid needs to learn to look both ways before crossing the street, and doesn't need to be exposed to the subtleties of opposing positions on the matter.
But to what extent does a child need or use religion or political thought in their early years? Do you really thing most children would be troubled by not having a coherent religious or political ideology in their formative years?
Of course, children imprint heavily on their parents and would most likely end up adopting the behavior and views of their parents anyway. But in the way they relate to their child, a parent could work to mitigate this and encourage their child to keep an open mind and make decisions when they think the time is right.
NO, George, NO! The Re-Parenting of George W. Bush
Book Description
This is a book about a President named George who has a dream. In this dream, George becomes a little boy, and he meets a Truth Fairy who is trying to teach him lessons about How to not manipulate the Media, How to treat Veterans, How to be honest, How to be respectful with families who have lost soldiers in war, How to go to War only when necessary, How not to label people as Boogeymen, How not to invade countries, How to control greed, How to hold fair elections, and How to behave as a leader. Though there are political lessons and footnotes for people to learn more, the ultimate lesson in the 32 paged hard cover children's style 81/2" x 11" book is that we are all connected; we are all one. On his journey while playing the game of "Let's Imagine" with the Truth Fairy, the young boy George learns many other lessons, including the fact that it is up to each of us to create the person we are becoming.
About the Author
Kathy Eder is a teacher who is actively trying to create a peace-filled and just world.
Um...okay.
One of Sullivan's readers writes:
Is a six-year old socialist somehow inherently more absurd than a six-year old Christian or a six-year old Muslim? We think nothing of ascribing religious beliefs to (or imposing religious beliefs on, if you prefer) our youngest children, or sending them to schools for -- again, depending on your perspective -- spiritual enlightenment or religious indoctrination. But a six-year old is no more able to make a free choice about his or her religious beliefs than about his or her political beliefs.
True enough, but I don't know, maybe we should think something of ascribing religious, or any other dogmatic beliefs, to our youngest children.
Might it not be a good idea to leave certain questions open until the child is old enough to make them on their own? Certainly you need to be assertive and dogmatic about stuff like safety. A kid needs to learn to look both ways before crossing the street, and doesn't need to be exposed to the subtleties of opposing positions on the matter.
But to what extent does a child need or use religion or political thought in their early years? Do you really thing most children would be troubled by not having a coherent religious or political ideology in their formative years?
Of course, children imprint heavily on their parents and would most likely end up adopting the behavior and views of their parents anyway. But in the way they relate to their child, a parent could work to mitigate this and encourage their child to keep an open mind and make decisions when they think the time is right.
Read/Post Comments (8)
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