Some questions for you to think about:
Do you think the old ideas about child rearing would work with modern children? Are those ideas better or worse than the way people treat their children these days?
Since I have been teaching, my ideas on child rearing have changed drastically land my outlook on how others raise their children has been damaged. It seems that in this day and age, so many have chosen to NOT raise their children. So many are just allowed to grow with no parents teaching them right from wrong, how to care for themselves, or even the basics they need to know to survive. Many say that people are to busy, people have to work, etc. But I did also. I am not saying that I was the perfect parent, far from it. But I have raised good kids. They are kind and considerate. They have goals in life and have good hearts. They know right from wrong and how to treat others, even those they do not particularly like. So many are missing just basics that we can not expect more from them.
With that said, I think that the way children were raised in the past could have a very profound effect on our children. A village raising the child in the days of two working parents families seems like a good idea, a way to solve so many problems. I think that this idea, this concept would not only make sure our kids were cared for, it would also help instill a modicum of respect in our kids. People have it in their minds that everyone is one for all. Take care of yourself and forget the rest... Our kids are being raised this way giving them a lost sense of caring. They do not care about others, they do not understand the struggle and strife that can befall people, and because of this, empathy and sympathy are a lost art.
This is a very strong subject for me. I know that when it came to raising my children, living in the type of environment where everyone worked together in the village, would have made my job so much easier. I also feel that my kids would have more confidence, they would be more open to the ideas of othes, and I also feel that they feeling of selfishnesses in children would be something of the past, as it needs to be. There would be less frustrationg which could help with the amount of abused and neglected children we have in our world today.
While parents were responsible for their children in the past, they seem to forget that they are in this here and now. Even though the parent was responsible, when the eyes of the entire village is watching, children, it would seem, would be less likely to get into trouble for the parents to be responsible for. Also, while parents would be responsibly, because they would be part of a community, the responsibility might not be so overwhemling.
How do see the role of a teacher? How should a good teacher treat their pupils (does it make any difference if they are teaching children or adults)?
It doesn't matter if you are teaching children or adults, students should be treated with respect and authority. I am a teacher and while teaching is a noble job and cause, it is quickly becoming a lost art. There is no power or support for teachers. They are expected to teach children everything from manners, respect, academics, and grooming. They are expected to take abuse from both students and parents and say nothing. They are expected to do all with very little pay or compensation for the many hours they put in and the abuse that they take. With that being said, lets move on...
Teachers are meant to impart knowledge. A good teacher is in this position because they have knowledge to impart and a desire or passion to do so. Good teachers treat their students, children or adults, with respect. They listen to what their students have to say but also demand respect. Teachers give their students confidence in what they know and teach them what they do not. They get to know the student, understand the students, and help to shape them into the person that they are meant to be.
How might a modern day Druid apply the idea of fosterage?
I would guess the foserage of a modern day Druid would be similar to sending a child to seminary school, though probably with a single person, such as an exchange student. I think that this would have to be a contract or a plan between the child, the parents/guardians, and the teacher. If a teacher was to take on a fosterage student, they would then be responsible for that student though with the help of the parents. I would say it would have to be a case by case basis. some parents would be able to support the teacher and students throughout his learning while others may not. when the deal for the education is made, it would be worked out between the involved parties and would vary, I would say, from case to case, the desire of the student and the parents, and the willingness of the teacher.
Practical exercise:
Plan a puberty ritual for an imaginary teen. Firstly, decide at which age this should be done ~ would it be on a specific birthday, or whenever puberty naturally occurs, or when some task has been accomplished etc. Secondly, decide who would be present ~ only people of the same gender, the whole family, etc. Thirdly, consider what elements you would include (maybe read around the practices of other cultures for inspiration), for example....
Special tasks ~ the Jewish bar mitzvah ceremony requires the boy to memorise a passage of the Torah and recite it for all those present.
Seclusion ~ in Ghana young women go into a period of contemplation away from the rest of the tribe at their first menstruation.
Change of name ~ as mentioned previously.
Gifts ~ the Apache womanhood ceremony involves a presentation of gifts to the new woman.
Decoration ~ the Congolese Pygmies paint special patterns on their skin during the ceremonies. Some other cultures have used permanent tattoos or scarification.
Some cultures have engaged in activities that would be too dangerous or even illegal in modern times, so there have to be limits! Fourthly, consider what you would educate the newly made adult about ~ what is the essence of manhood or womanhood? Finally, think about which deities you might call upon to guide the transition successfully.
Do you think the old ideas about child rearing would work with modern children? Are those ideas better or worse than the way people treat their children these days?
Since I have been teaching, my ideas on child rearing have changed drastically land my outlook on how others raise their children has been damaged. It seems that in this day and age, so many have chosen to NOT raise their children. So many are just allowed to grow with no parents teaching them right from wrong, how to care for themselves, or even the basics they need to know to survive. Many say that people are to busy, people have to work, etc. But I did also. I am not saying that I was the perfect parent, far from it. But I have raised good kids. They are kind and considerate. They have goals in life and have good hearts. They know right from wrong and how to treat others, even those they do not particularly like. So many are missing just basics that we can not expect more from them.
With that said, I think that the way children were raised in the past could have a very profound effect on our children. A village raising the child in the days of two working parents families seems like a good idea, a way to solve so many problems. I think that this idea, this concept would not only make sure our kids were cared for, it would also help instill a modicum of respect in our kids. People have it in their minds that everyone is one for all. Take care of yourself and forget the rest... Our kids are being raised this way giving them a lost sense of caring. They do not care about others, they do not understand the struggle and strife that can befall people, and because of this, empathy and sympathy are a lost art.
This is a very strong subject for me. I know that when it came to raising my children, living in the type of environment where everyone worked together in the village, would have made my job so much easier. I also feel that my kids would have more confidence, they would be more open to the ideas of othes, and I also feel that they feeling of selfishnesses in children would be something of the past, as it needs to be. There would be less frustrationg which could help with the amount of abused and neglected children we have in our world today.
While parents were responsible for their children in the past, they seem to forget that they are in this here and now. Even though the parent was responsible, when the eyes of the entire village is watching, children, it would seem, would be less likely to get into trouble for the parents to be responsible for. Also, while parents would be responsibly, because they would be part of a community, the responsibility might not be so overwhemling.
How do see the role of a teacher? How should a good teacher treat their pupils (does it make any difference if they are teaching children or adults)?
It doesn't matter if you are teaching children or adults, students should be treated with respect and authority. I am a teacher and while teaching is a noble job and cause, it is quickly becoming a lost art. There is no power or support for teachers. They are expected to teach children everything from manners, respect, academics, and grooming. They are expected to take abuse from both students and parents and say nothing. They are expected to do all with very little pay or compensation for the many hours they put in and the abuse that they take. With that being said, lets move on...
Teachers are meant to impart knowledge. A good teacher is in this position because they have knowledge to impart and a desire or passion to do so. Good teachers treat their students, children or adults, with respect. They listen to what their students have to say but also demand respect. Teachers give their students confidence in what they know and teach them what they do not. They get to know the student, understand the students, and help to shape them into the person that they are meant to be.
How might a modern day Druid apply the idea of fosterage?
I would guess the foserage of a modern day Druid would be similar to sending a child to seminary school, though probably with a single person, such as an exchange student. I think that this would have to be a contract or a plan between the child, the parents/guardians, and the teacher. If a teacher was to take on a fosterage student, they would then be responsible for that student though with the help of the parents. I would say it would have to be a case by case basis. some parents would be able to support the teacher and students throughout his learning while others may not. when the deal for the education is made, it would be worked out between the involved parties and would vary, I would say, from case to case, the desire of the student and the parents, and the willingness of the teacher.
Practical exercise:
Plan a puberty ritual for an imaginary teen. Firstly, decide at which age this should be done ~ would it be on a specific birthday, or whenever puberty naturally occurs, or when some task has been accomplished etc. Secondly, decide who would be present ~ only people of the same gender, the whole family, etc. Thirdly, consider what elements you would include (maybe read around the practices of other cultures for inspiration), for example....
Special tasks ~ the Jewish bar mitzvah ceremony requires the boy to memorise a passage of the Torah and recite it for all those present.
Seclusion ~ in Ghana young women go into a period of contemplation away from the rest of the tribe at their first menstruation.
Change of name ~ as mentioned previously.
Gifts ~ the Apache womanhood ceremony involves a presentation of gifts to the new woman.
Decoration ~ the Congolese Pygmies paint special patterns on their skin during the ceremonies. Some other cultures have used permanent tattoos or scarification.
Some cultures have engaged in activities that would be too dangerous or even illegal in modern times, so there have to be limits! Fourthly, consider what you would educate the newly made adult about ~ what is the essence of manhood or womanhood? Finally, think about which deities you might call upon to guide the transition successfully.
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