I decided to post some of my school work that I am most proud of. These works express my views concisely and integrate together the various tangents of my potential.
Today society faces many problems which threaten to destroy or severely damage its very existence. People try to solve these dilemmas through legislation, protest, violence or complete disregard; solutions which do not solve the issues but magnify them. The late Albert Einstein (1879-1855) said “the significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them.” Society can only solve these massive problems by shifting their paradigm to try something different. If the children are to inherit a better world, they must be the solution; parents have to facilitate that leadership by properly equipping the children to create effective solutions.
Dr. Martin Luther King (1963), in his famous speech I Have a Dream, stated this solution best when he said, “We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.” In his speech, his words transcend beyond freedom for the oppressed; to be a solution for many of the massive problems society faces. Society’s problems are all birthed of ego; no one wants to admit culpability, work together to solve them, or look at the peaceful approach. The peaceful approach rests in the children, but requires the adult to look inward: to admit they are part of the problem; to champion change; and to question their view the child.
The adult to child relationship is one of dominance to submission. The child is expected to be subservient to the adult, seen as a burden, and barely tolerated. The historical adage, “children should be seen and not heard”, still exists today. The children are completely dependent on those in charge. In blatant disregard for the humanity of the child, parents or caregivers often tout, “my house, my rules, my way, or the highway”; the child is given no voice. Any attempt by the child at vocal expression is often met with the violence of suppression; or allowed only within the confines of complete mockery. This diminishes the child to frustration and lack of spiritual growth which relegates the child’s greatness into the hands of mediocrity. Society’s big problems cannot be solved when the child, enshrouded by mediocrity, reaches adulthood; these problems persist, get worse and the cycle becomes perpetual.
The adult facilitates the growth of the child through the admission of errant beliefs and takes those steps necessary to correct the damage. Author Alfie Kohn’s book Unconditional Parenting, addresses this when he says, “what do children need” and “… we need to work with them rather than doing to them, in order to reach goals”. He explains when parents question their views of child rearing, they give children the tools to become role models of self responsibility and reliability; great and powerful harbingers of change (Kohn,N.D.).
In society, there is a commonality of people working together to achieve a goal; it is even recognized as necessary for survival. Successful business leaders recognize and tap hidden sources of talent. Any person is given the opportunity to prove self-worth despite age, race, gender, creed or religion; this person is not judged by external characteristics but “by the content of their heart” (King, 1963). Marriages require both people to contribute to building a successful foundation; otherwise the marriage will end in divorce. It has been said that when people unite in partnership, their abilities are magnified; yet the most important partnership (parent to child) is ignored based on prejudice ego. In the military, the private must have all semblance of the questioning spirit crushed and taught to dutifully comply with orders; this is a similar plight of the child.
To solve the current problems of society future innovation and creativity are paramount. Different results cannot be achieved if the problems are approached using the same methods. A fresh perspective is necessary; the children possess this fresh perspective. Parent’s natural inclination is to stymie the growth and expression of the child in the name of authoritarianism. To manifest the true potential of the child, caregivers have the responsibility to equip the child with the tools needed to solve these problems. The adult must question his or her view of the child as incompetent and incapable; choosing instead to partner with the child in laying the foundation to create this harbinger of change.
References
King, M.L. (1963) I have a dream. Retrieved from http://www.mlkonline.net/dream.html on September 20, 2009.
Kohn, A. (N.D.) Retrieved from http://www.alfiekohn.org/index.php on September 20, 2009.
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