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Re: Under- estimating childrens intelligence By Jeanine 04/26/02 05:12:28 AM

Date: 04/26/02 05:12:28 AM
Name: Jeanine
Email: jeanine1011@earthlink.net
Subject: Re: Under- estimating childrens intelligence
I agree completely. Most of the field trips I have taken my kids to are this way. For example, we went to the fire dept last week. The fireman talked to the parents and couldn't even talk to the kids with enthusiasm. what bothered me most was this nine year old boy who stayed in front of this fireman throughout the whole tour- he was hanging on his every word and asked lots of questions. this child says he wants to be either a fireman or in the division of forestry. the fireman didn't even seem to notice this child's extreme interest. he brushed off this child's questions with a sarcastic I am better than you tone. fortunately, I know that not all people are that way, but what I dont understand is why so many adults act as if children are just idiots and they cannot talk to them in a regular manner. Fortunately I think this particular child was strong enough in his aspirations to not let this idiot damper his spirit. I couldn't help but notice though.
Replying to:
I am have been a home educator for many years now and like all home educators I strive to find real experts to share their passions and interests with my children. Ten years ago it was still possible to go to a zoo and speak to the keeper or if I was lucky enough I would find a retired paleontologist in the basement of a university who welcomed kids into his world for a while and thrilled them for several hours with stories of huge mammoths he had dug out of the earth that year.

Sadly and frustratingly all has changed. Where-ever I go looking for the real marine biologists or astronomers to give talks to groups of home-ed children I am faced with a barage of EDUCATORS. Universities, zoos, aquariums - you name it- have been taken over by educators. Their progammes are so dumbed down that they are an insult to the intelliegence of children - insisting that they will better learn about dolphins lives by a series of role plays and puzzle building. What is happening here. It is starting to terrify me.The displays at our city science museum have dumbed down to such an alarming level that many families have stopped going. Planetariums using mickey mouse and other cartoon characters to explain working of the universe. Two years ago I took my then 6 year old child to a planetarium (it was an evening public session) to see a program about Mars. She understood it as well as I did and for the next month was telling anyone who would listen about the Martian experience - even after I had completely forgotten it.

My point is that childrens intelligence is grossly underesimated by school people and these so called educators who have no in depth knowledge about the subject apart from what they have read. Parents are just as capable to that level fo expetise.

Is there some sort of conspiracy to keep children away from people who could give them exciting learning experiences and tell it as it really is with time for questions. If not then - where can we find them...
Lyn