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From: rwh@aesat.UUCP (Russ Herman)
Newsgroups: net.kids
Subject: Re: Better [?] Babies
Message-ID: <392@aesat.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 8-May-85 20:39:16 EDT
Article-I.D.: aesat.392
Posted: Wed May  8 20:39:16 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 8-May-85 21:26:46 EDT
Organization: AES Data Inc., Mississauga, Ont., CANADA L5N 3C9
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> Patricia Collins

> Our kids ... are drilled and
> filled with packaged skills and formulas for success.  They are
> a success in this environment if they can regurgitate accurately
> and skillfully.  When they finally emerge (if they emerge), the
> lucky ones have mastered those skills.  

I don't know where or when you went to school, but when I did, at least
SOME of the time was devoted to teaching me basic tools like reading
and math, and how to think. Sure, it was a waste of time for me to have
to learn the major exports of every South American country (this is
growing up in Florida in the late 50's), but it seems to me that there
is less of that going on than there was before. As for packaged skills
and formulas for success, what's wrong with that (if there are such
things). I want my kid to be a success, although success at what will
ultimately be his decision: whether it's doctor, plumber, artist, or
real estate salesman will be based on his interests and abilities.

> But they are being denied ... exploring their own unique creative styles.
Not so. You can't explore without tools for expression. What programs such
as Doman's does, in part, is to give the child tools earlier than
conventional wisdom believes they can be acquired.

> ... can they develop the rich
> experience of learning cooperation, negotiation, sympathy, communication?
This is kind of funny, coming up in the community in which it has. We
"computer types" are supposedly (and probably even somewhat are, as a
generalisation) deficient in these areas. I don't think it's terribly
impaired our success.

> ... is there a way to get through to preschool (heck! any school)
> teachers that imposed discipline negates self discipline?
Probably not, because it just isn't so. Show me a kid who was born
disciplined. That's a matter of habits, and habit training is best
started early. That's why I'm looking for a good Montessori preschool
for my son (turning 4 in Oct.) - he sure can't learn self-discipline
from my example (*sigh*).
-- 
  ______			Russ Herman
 /      \			{allegra,ihnp4,linus,decvax}!utzoo!aesat!rwh
@( ?  ? )@			
 (  ||  )			The opinions above are strictly personal, and 
 ( \__/ )			do not reflect those of my employer (or even
  \____/			possibly myself an hour from now.)