Relativism for the under 12s

[Tabouli]

Pippin, quoting me:
>>Maybe the reason why children can't understand why Snape 
wasn't the villain is less because they aren't capable of 
understanding complex portrayals of Good
and Evil, but because almost all of the books and TV and films 
and education aimed at them are indoctrinating them in 
simplistic notions of Good and Evil<<

>As a mom I have to disagree. Many under twelves *like* that stuff, 
and given a choice they prefer it.  I believe this is because the 
healthy child identifies with the parent. To develop a positive 
self-image, the child must view the parent, and by extension 
adult society, as good. <

Ah, but I wasn't talking about preference or self-esteem, I was talking about cognitive development!  Given the choice, most people of any age would stay in their comfort zone rather than venture into less secure territory.  I freely admit that as a child I found my parents' conflicting messages about good and bad very distressing and uncomfortable, and that it had quite negative consequences for my self-esteem.  No doubt I, like your kids, would have much preferred a more clear-cut, safe world, where Mum and Dad *agreed* on what good was and bad was, and good people did good things and looked good, and bad people did bad things and looked bad.  All the same...

On the basis of my experiences, and some of the media aimed at 9-12 year olds, I was saying that under 12s are probably more capable of non-absolutist thought than researchers think, they're just not encouraged to do so.  I also don't think that a bit of relativism is necessarily disturbing at all... my own experiences of it were, but I think it could be presented in a way kids would find fascinating.  After all, I taught both a 10yo boy and a 12yo girl some basic cultural relativism just a couple of weeks ago, and I'm certain neither of them felt threatened by it... indeed, they were interested and motivated to learn, because they were about to go overseas and I was teaching them about how it.  Hopefully, a little relativist thought will actually buffer their self-esteems against the potential assault of culture shock.

One thing I contemplated doing (though I didn't in that session) was the ol' lukewarm water trick... have one bowl of hot water, one lukewarm and one cold.  Get children to stick their left hands in the hot water, and their right hands in the cold water.  Wait a few minutes and then put both in the lukewarm water, which of course feels cold to the left hand and hot to the right hand.  Simple, non-threatening lesson in how your original environment affects the way your new one feels (no need for scary stuff like "is this person Good or Bad" when you can start with "is this water hot or cold?")

Some of what I did do was a little benchmarking and working with well-known stereotypes:

"Are there any Asian kids at your school?  How are they different from the Aussie kids?"
    "They all have black hair."    
    "They study really hard, and they're quiet."

I then used this as a starting point to get them to explore how Aussie kids might seem to kids in Malaysia  (They'll probably think we're slack and noisy, won't they?  And they'll think my blond hair is weird!).  Much better having some warning before they go in assuming everyone shares their Australian notions of Good and Bad children and getting a nasty shock when they find themselves being punished for "good" behaviour and then going into shock when they realise they no longer have any idea which behaviours are rewarded and which are punished.

A kid's film I thought was a great intro to relativism was none other than "Babe", which I might also use some time if I train kids again.  I say Babe was a cross-cultural counsellor in porcine form.  Those who've seen it, remember that wonderful cross-cultural exchange between the female sheep dog (great and non-neon-lights-in-the-pulpit female role model, I thought) and the herd of sheep?  There's this bit which goes something like this:

Sheepdog's thoughts: She knew that there was no point explaining this to sheep, because as all dogs knew, sheep were stupid and would never understand what dogs had to say.

Lead Sheep's thoughts: She knew that there was no point explaining this to wolves, because as all sheep knew, wolves were ignorant, and would never listen to what sheep had to say.

I don't know about the US, but Australian children certainly lapped this film up, preference for clear-cut Good and Evil notwithstanding (OK, so the cat and farmer's wife were Evil, but never mind).  I'd be interested to see to what level children of differen ages could process what's happening in this scene... what do people more experienced than I with children think?

Pippin:
> Bad things about adult society must be 
the fault of mean people, not society itself. Anything that 
challenges this inherent conservatism is going to be disturbing, 
and kids will tune it out if they can<

Personally, I find the notion of intrinsically Evil people whose every thought and act is Evil terrifying.  If you accept this as fact, what option is there other than killing them?  (Can True Evil ever be reformed?)

Tabouli (who will eventually get onto the commitment and Myers Brigg stuff...)


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