Kids don't need to be taught that they're "special" and to esteem themselves. If they're like I was when I was younger, they already think they're budding geniuses destined for greatness, or future pro athletes, or going to be rich and famous in some nebulous future.

Real education is the one that cures you of your natural self-regard, not fosters it with romantic literature and "lofty" discussions of grand themes. Real education teaches you that you almost certainly aren't all that brilliant or exceptional or original and that most people you meet will only give a crap about you insofar as you can do something to benefit them. The stuff that tricks kids into thinking of their mere presence on earth as a blessing to everyone and Transcendentalist hooey about how everyone has greatness inside him is as about as beneficial for young minds as nightly alcohol binges would be for their bodies. Instead they should be learning how to make concrete plans for their futures and learning that any big dreamy plans they have for themselves will probably have to be scrapped if they're to achieve anything resembling contentment -- and that this relinquishing of grandiose fantasies is best done earlier rather than later.

I disagree

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Originally posted by wotyzoid I disagree

Why?

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Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles Real education teaches you that you almost certainly aren't all that brilliant or exceptional or original and that most people you meet will only give a crap about you insofar as you can do something to benefit them.

That's what I call wisdom. It's not something you can teach kids, they don't have the experience to process that lesson for themselves. Once they get old enough their own experiences start changing their perceptions. You just have to endure 16 year olds being brats.

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Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles Real education teaches you that you almost certainly aren't all that brilliant or exceptional or original and that most people you meet will only give a crap about you insofar as you can do something to benefit them.

I disagree. I think real education teaches you that if you want to be exceptional or brilliant or original, you're going to have to work at it.

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Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles Why?

Haha I posted for comic relief, but I guess I'll throw a few rocks around..

Ok why would you ever say to a 10 year old that "You're not good enough", "You'll never make it", or "Forget it, kid"? I for one actually believe that if you believe in yourself , work hard enough, and want it bad enough you can accomplish pretty much anything. I know it sounds cheesy but it's a simple mind trick that confidence plays on you. If you think you can do it, you probably can. Having a good balance between being optimist and realistic is pretty much key to life, I think. So why not tell kids, " Hey you can do it man, you just have to work for it hard enough" ? We should raise children to be confident adults, not self-conscious D&D nerds. Just my 2 cents. Sorry if I mis-interpreted

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Originally posted by Ygrene I disagree. I think real education teaches you that if you want to be exceptional or brilliant or original, you're going to have to work at it.

Most people can't be truly exceptional or brilliant even if they do work at it.

That's the lesson most kids don't get taught.

Hell is all the teachers

[/Teen Sartre]

I kinda feel your pain, like I said in the other thread. I had more trouble, however, with the teachers who thought I should be the way they wanted...

I'd say those teachers that told me I was intelligent and whatnot helped me overcome many of the difficulties I've had so far in life. They're the ones that held my arm and told me that I should have my feet on the ground, make realistic plans, and do my best because I could get where I wanted.

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Originally posted by wotyzoid Ok why would you ever say to a 10 year old that "You're not good enough", "You'll never make it", or "Forget it, kid"?

Nope, I'm not saying that we should tell specific kids "you suck!" I'm saying that we should teach them that exceptional people are rare for a reason: most people lack either the willpower or the innate capacity to be at the top of some field of human endeavor.

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So why not tell kids, " Hey you can do it man, you just have to work for it hard enough" ?

Kids, especially young ones, really don't have a good idea of what "hard work" means in this context. "Hard work" to them is studying for a test or writing a three-page paper or running a couple miles in PE. They don't have any precedent for the kind of dedication and talent required to really excel as an adult.

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Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles Most people can't be truly exceptional or brilliant even if they do work at it. That's the lesson most kids don't get taught.

I don't think that's a lesson that should ever be taught. That's a lesson for an individual to learn on their own.

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Having said this:

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Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles Kids, especially young ones, really don't have a good idea of what "hard work" means in this context. They don't have any precedent for the kind of dedication and talent required to really excel as an adult.

By that same token, do you think they are ready to grasp this:

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Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles I'm saying that we should teach them that exceptional people are rare for a reason: most people lack either the willpower or the innate capacity to be at the top of some field of human endeavor.

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Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles Kids, especially young ones, really don't have a good idea of what "hard work" means in this context. "Hard work" to them is studying for a test or writing a three-page paper or running a couple miles in PE. They don't have any precedent for the kind of dedication and talent required to really excel as an adult.

Well if they didn't accomplish it at least they tried. That's noble enough in itself since most people are afraid to go after what they really want.

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