Who Should Be The Teacher?

Dear Meredyth,

Should schools teach children how not to bully, have manners, win, or should parents?

Kathleen

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Dear Kathleen,

Children are born perfect, it is adults that mess them up. Kids do not know how to bully, be rude or be competitive innately. These are all learned qualities. Thus, being rude or mean must therefore also be learned (or taught).

Winning is not so much a quality that is learned, as much as being a poor sport, a sore looser or a cocky winner. These are qualities that are taught, or learned.Winning is not a trait but a moment of an event. Being a "winner" is a perspective taken by an individual or society, whereas you could win at a sport but be a "punk" and thus be looked at as a looser.

It is not so important who teaches a child, so much as it is important to TEACH our children to have their own internal feel for right or wrong. This way when they are taught incorrectly by whomever, they can recognize THEIR OWN internal red flag and know that what is happening does or doen't feel right, (no matter who is doing the teaching).

I would rather "teach" my children by my actions, by being kind and polite and a good sport. This way, these qualities are a part of a child's reality versus a subject to be forgotten when a new teacher enters the room.

Here to help,

Meredyth 

www.AskMeredyth.com