I once saw a couple of "professional educators" simper condescendingly
at me as they watched me explain the word "metaphor" to a five year old.
They "knew better" than to tell a five year old a word like that.
Why was I explaining the word? Because she'd just criticized something
I'd said, saying "Not _really_." And I agreed. "No, not _really_,
really. They call it a metaphor." "What's _that_?" So I told her. And I
told her what the difference between a metaphor and a fib was.
She used the word five times within the next week. On her own.
On the contrary, I recently used the word on the telephone with a
twelve-year-old. Her response was "Don't use such big words; remember,
I'm only in *public* school."
I hardly think an honest response to a question about bacteria destroys
sense of wonder. And I weep for the upbringing of the twelve-year-old.
Is an ordinary five-year-old supposed to be told fairy tales when she
asks for an explanation about why she's supposed to brush her teeth? Is
"tickling her imagination", in this instance, what is called for?
Are you assuming too much, perhaps?
Mihail Faina wrote:
>
> "I'd concur with others Emlyn, if you are educating her about bacteria
> and she understands them at the age of 5, you are doing a great job
> as a parent."
>
> I just wonder about the above statement (nothing else then wonder).
> Is this a "new trend" in being a great parent or is just overkill? Is
> quite
> possible that Emlyn's daughter is a "little genius" but what about
> the other
> kids? Should we (parents and grand parents) read them bed time stories
> full
> with microbiology and astronomy scientific explanations or should we
> just
> "let the fables to tickle their imagination"?
> Is an ordinary 5 year old ready for scientific explanations as the one
> about
> bacteria or is just the parents trying very hard to "sync" the kids with
> their
> own environment?
> Mihail
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