On 15 Oct 98, Suzanne Stephens wrote:
> I just wish parents would offer children a wide range of
> opportunities, then support their kids in following whatever intrigues
> them.
Mm...
I have two daughters, aged 9 and 11, both of whom are very bright and
accomplished kids: in the gifted program at school, talented musicians,
keen athletes, all that. I'm (justifiably, I think) very proud of them.
I know that they have the academic potential to do pretty much whatever
they want once they're older, and I try and encourage them to keep their
interests as broad and "non-gender-bound" as possible. Rachel is keen on
computers and HTML, for instance, while Erica has a particular fondness
for geology and rockhounding. Her idea of a perfect day is rooting around
in a nearby marble quarry with me, unearthing interesting specimens.
Basically, I want my daughters to be competent, practical people when
they grow up, capable of fixing things, understanding the natural world,
and generally just looking after themselves.
But I must admit that it's a challenge at times to avoid gender
stereotyping in my relationship with them. For instance, I don't like to
overdo references to what "pretty girls" they are, because that seems to
me to be emphasizing the importance of good looks over inner qualities;
put it this way, very few parents go on about how "handsome" their sons
are (not to their faces anyway.) Boys are lauded more for what they
*do* than for how they look. And so it should be with little girls, I think.
The schools in my area are becoming more enlightened in such respects,
I'm happy to say. As of this year home ec isn't on the curriculum at all
(though more for fiscal than doctrinal reasons), but my nine-year-old does
get some shop class (er, "technological arts" as it's euphemistically called
now), where she learns to use various power tools, and work with wood
and metal. This I of course endorse.
On the other hand, another victim of those same fiscal constraints was
the computer program -- lame to start with, almost non-existent now.
It's not a huge issue in this largely middle-class and affluent area, as many
kids have computers at home, but as a matter of policy it does show a
rather Luddite-like ignorance on the part of school board brass. I'd rather
see a single teaching position cut and 40 computers bought with the
money saved, myself. Especially considering some of the deadwood that
this province's powerful teacher's union manages to keep in the classroom
through threats of labour actions...
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Brent Eades, Almonte, Ontario
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Town of Almonte site: http://www.almonte.com/
Business site: http://www.federalweb.com
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