Because Shark, Squirrel and Tiger might be out there now, tipping off the edge of normal society. Maybe it's too late to haul them back into that safe mainstream of pre-teen living. Which means that those people who say that home education means you are locked in some strange bubble on the fringes of society are right. We are doomed to lose contact with normality forever.
Today just makes me think that. Because now our world is inhabited by crumpled people with white and pink hair and anoraks and sensible shoes and big bags in which you can carry your knitting and still have room for a big thermos so you can sit down somewhere quiet for a nice cup of tea.
Look here.
These photos are the result of joining a History Walk with a Blue Badge Guide leading a slow moving pensioner gathering of elderly ladies and gentlemen through Great Linford Village.
And when this history hobble is all staggered out and we have found out about the thirteenth century church, medieval fish pond, Elizabethan manor house, haunting of the 17th century soldiers in the local pub and the red telephone box, saved for the nation, the guide turns to the youngest people on this tour, the only children in fact we have seen all morning - Shark, Squirrel and Tiger - and she says Well now, I'm sure for you young ladies the most interesting thing you saw today was the frog at the pond!
And Shark, Tiger and Squirrel all look at her, wide eyed with shock. Shark, with that pursed lip look of offence and outraged indignation you only ever see on the face of your granny, turns to me and whispers, It wasn't actually. It was the fourteenth century window design of the church tower.
6 comments:
LOL! It's not even just old people. Unless an adult either has direct experience or has decided to treat children as people on principal they do all have a disturbing tendency to react to all pre-teens as if they are about 3 years old. That comment would have got a reaction from my 5 year old, only she wouldn't have done the tactful whispering.
You must be so proud!
WHYWHYWHY do people treat people like this? For that's what children are you know, PEOPLE. For some unknown reason, it seems to be a little known fact.
You know for some children - Roo for instance, who's been obsessed with frogs since one hopped out unexpectedly at him when he was two - the guide would have been right.
Saurus however, would have been slightly oblivious to everything apart from maybe a football pitch, but then has a surprising eye for churches on occasion.
Wig would have liked the Frog AND the church.
Fluff would have been fascinated with all the people - especially the ones with blue hair and/or sticks.
Petal would be outragously flirting with anyone looking her way till they got closer than four foot, then denying their presence, and probably trying to eat the frog.
The point to me going on and on? (help, there has to be a point?)
Oh yeah - everyone is different and finds different things interesting. To presume people are not going to like something (based on some random factor like their race or gender or age)- and lets face it, there was a variety on this walk, it wasn't all church or all frog - is limiting (and you see this a lot in care of people with servere learning disabilities, which badly curtails their quality of life and growth)
What if the guide had presumed that none of the pensioners would have been interested in the frogs, cos old people only like church archtecture? There are plenty of 'old' people who are expert on 'young people' stuff like pop music or football or pot holing...
I degress. Anyhow, I've always found it much nicer - and more fun - to presume competence and interest (with my children, or anyone else for that matter). They soon let you know if you're incorrect, at which point you can gracefully adjust.
pah.
(sorry. this is one of my hobbyhorses, evidently!)
this "Because now our world is inhabited by crumpled people with white and pink hair and anoraks and sensible shoes and big bags in which you can carry your knitting and still have room for a big thermos so you can sit down somewhere quiet for a nice cup of tea."
is such a perfect description!
thank you for your comments, people. this is one of the things i love about home ed. it takes us to places that otherwise we may never go, to be with people we would otherwise never meet.
yes, I can't understand how those poor isolated cooped up school children ever manage to cobble together any decent social skills, can you?
(mmm, feeling a mite bitter tonight... apologies for the sarcasim!)
Post a Comment