Educating Children

pennywise · #1 (**permalink**) 04-30-2006, 07:52 AM

I was unable to make a new thread so I will add to this one:

What can a trip to the zoo teach us?

I took my daughter to the penguin exhibit and there was a chart (with pictures) showing the walrus eats the penguin, the penguin eats the seal, the seal eats the fish, and the fish eat the krill (sp?). Well, I tell my daughter the Walrus is the doctor, lawyer, or Indian chief (oh how those childrens rhymes had meaning), the Penguin is a teacher or nurse, the fish is the factory worker or day laborer, and the krill is the Kmart or Walmart worker. I ask her what she wants to be. Does she want to eat or be eaten? Big lessons in a small place!

funnyvalentine · #2 (**permalink**) 04-30-2006, 10:59 AM

I find this sort of scary, and I'm not entirely convinced that being a doctor, lawyer, (or Indian chief, in all its politically incorrect usage) is even marginally"better" than being a teacher, nurse or Walmart worker. Last time I looked, the Walmart workers had much better benefits than almost any of the people I know; writers, professors, ministers and musicians.

I think we have be very careful when we start to plant these stereotypes in our kids' brains. As far as I'm concerned, the world has too many lawyers and not nearly enough teachers. And if no one works at Walmart, (those poor workers that you've labeled as "krill") where are you going to buy your reasonably priced clothing? I bet even your doctor shops there.

C

Quote:

Originally Posted by pennywise

I was unable to make a new thread so I will add to this one:

What can a trip to the zoo teach us?

I took my daughter to the penguin exhibit and there was a chart (with pictures) showing the walrus eats the penguin, the penguin eats the seal, the seal eats the fish, and the fish eat the krill (sp?). Well, I tell my daughter the Walrus is the doctor, lawyer, or Indian chief (oh how those childrens rhymes had meaning), the Penguin is a teacher or nurse, the fish is the factory worker or day laborer, and the krill is the Kmart or Walmart worker. I ask her what she wants to be. Does she want to eat or be eaten? Big lessons in a small place!

PrincessPerky · #3 (**permalink**) 04-30-2006, 11:27 AM

hmm I think your zoo needs some work, penguins eat krill or fish, not seal...
seals tend to eat cephalapods and crustaceans (Ie not just fish, though they do eat those)...

walruses have been known to eat seal, but that is rare..link for more mainly they eat 'bivalves' like clams.

but hey now your DD has lots of questions (like can I change the pecking order for people too?)

rdeel2000 · #4 (**permalink**) 04-30-2006, 12:23 PM

I don't know the age of your daughter but what a heavy burden to lay on any child. I don't believe success is measured by who eats whom. I raised two boys and always believed that if I sent law abiding, responsible people out into the world, they and I would be great successes. My boys both took very nontraditional paths in life but both are very happy and content with where they are and I couldn't be more proud of them if they were brain surgeons.

nanamom · #5 (**permalink**) 04-30-2006, 12:38 PM

If you look at it that way, where does a stay at home Mom fit in? How about the armed forces personnel? or a farmer? It also makes the penguin the one who educates for the Walrus and the fish is the one who makes the products the walrus and everyone else uses to get around which puts (to a certain extent) lives in the hands of fish. and Krill are pretty necessary. I have alot of respect for people who work at "krill" jobs. As long as my children are the best they can be at whatever they do and my prayer is that they also enjoy what they do I am proud.

shelbylovesmelby · #6 (**permalink**) 04-30-2006, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdeel2000

I don't know the age of your daughter but what a heavy burden to lay on any child. I don't believe success is measured by who eats whom. I raised two boys and always believed that if I sent law abiding, responsible people out into the world, they and I would be great successes. My boys both took very nontraditional paths in life but both are very happy and content with where they are and I couldn't be more proud of them if they were brain surgeons.

I agree & I couldn't of said it better!

PRICEPLUS · #7 (**permalink**) 04-30-2006, 04:19 PM

One of the first lessons I taught my DD was that life is unfair. That is just the way it is. Do your best and enjoy yourself. The whole social Darwinism thing eludes me. No one is better than me and I am no better than anyone else. In the end it is all vanity.

We come in with nothing and we leave with nothing.

abowers · #8 (**permalink**) 04-30-2006, 05:04 PM

I don't know about that analogy...I don't really agree with it.

Briefly, A trip to the zoo teaches children about animals not native to our backyards, and allows them to see animals they would otherwise only read about in books.

getforfree · #9 (**permalink**) 04-30-2006, 05:30 PM

you also can tell your daughter which jobs pay more with less time and money spend for education. Like being a teacher takes lots of time to study, but they don't get paid much. I think, doesn't matter how much she will be making, she won't be poor if she will be frugal.

PrincessPerky · #10 (**permalink**) 05-01-2006, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nanamom

I have alot of respect for people who work at "krill" jobs. As long as my children are the best they can be at whatever they do and my prayer is that they also enjoy what they do I am proud.

Ditto that part, I am not interested in being 'top dog' or 'king of the jungle' I am interested in being the best I can be. Whatever that may be..In my case it happens to be what Pennywise prolly considers a krill job, I am just a mother, nothing more and nothing less.