Posted by Eric Abraham on November 14, 2007 at 14:20:43 from 63.245.162.246 user EricAbraham.
In Reply to: Re: Fireworks and Responsibility ! posted by Laurence Monkhouse on November 14, 2007 at 12:29:25:
I occasionally do workshops with school kids. Recently I did a day with Middle School kids. They were attentive, polite and asked very good questions. Of course, the teacher was present, BUT, I have worked with the same age group when the teacher was present and the kids were off the ceiling. I think that the quality of the adult in charge (teacher, parent, scout leader or whatever) tends to govern the attitude of the kids involved. I don't think people are really any worse than they were in the past, we just hear more and more about it. Our culture tries to force kids to be "adults" far before their time and most don't have the experience to pull it off. They usually try to imitate the worse aspects of adulthood as that is what they see on Television and in the Newspapers and we all know that adults "are just old fogeys that don't know nothing". (Some don't even know about double negatives.)
Kids are same everywhere - if they are given direction and guidance and approval, they are great; but if this is not provided, then they are out in orbit.
It seems to me that part of the solution to the problem is to look upon the good and build on that. At that Middle School presentatiion, I told the teacher what great kids he had and that I had a great time giving the presentation. In my two years as Artist-in-schools in Wichita, I only had one class (fourth grade) where they were really rude and obnoxious and that was the teacher's fault (she left). After I threatened to take my materials and leave, they got down and actually did some great projects - and I told them so.
Our Swallows and Amazons are excellent examples of directed children with parents who know when to be present and when to quietly withdraw. Examples that most parents could follow.
I think you are right on about the newspapers. It seems they have a hard time sticking to the exact facts (if they actually get them) - sometimes they are lucky to spell your name right even though they double check the spelling. Our local papers do seem to get it right most of the time - hey! they always spell my name right!
And I am trying to be optimistic about all this --
Eric Abraham - (not A-n-d-e-r-s-o-n as one newspaper spelled my name)