Posted by Eric Abraham on August 02, 2010 at 05:31:59 user EricAbraham.
In Reply to: Re: Laura Dekker posted by Peter Willis on August 01, 2010 at 05:40:39:
"But children can do so much more than we think they can and grow with responsibiliy." This is the key - we tend to over protect our children and treat them like babies (which are quite durable). This is one of the primary joys of reading Mr. Ransome's stories - the children are allowed to explore and learn on their own, to devise their own "lesson plans". Of course the "natives" are ever alert in the background, but not hovering over them and controlling every move - my mother called this "smother love".
When I was six and seven, I was going all over Los Angeles, California on the trolley car by myself. And I don't think LA was that much less dangerous then, we just hear a lot more about "things" happening now.
If the girl is responsible, competent and has a direction, then she should go, with proper back-ups, as in our stories.
Mr. Ransome's tales are such excellent examples of self relience!!!