Friday 18 October 2013

CHILDREN'S DEBATE

In recent days academia have been speaking about the academic abilities of children again, and this comment was reported by the BBC.

"It is possible of course that clever individuals choose other ways of getting on in the world than through education, but the fact remains that many children in British and Swedish schools do not appear to fulfil their academic potential." [1] 


So the discussion began with the sharing of different views and experiences:

Academics always talk about the importance of children reaching their academic potential. When do we hear them speak about nurturing the natural talents of children? Do they ever speak about the impact of children reaching their spiritual potential through education? Professor Pope in Australia did agree with my view that self-development should be included in every educational process from the earliest age. 

Potential is multi-faceted. and some children are neither academic or have any interest in academia or going to a university. Yet, in the 21st century the BBC report shows us that some academics are still judging children on their success by how many qualifications they have. How many pieces of paper they can collect to keep the academics in jobs. 

Goodness gracious me, when will they comprehend that every child is unique? 

Its so simple and basic common sense, do academics have any? In my experience most academics like to complicate everything When in fact, the truth is as simple as intelligent children that are creative. They were born to be co-creators and their creativity can manifest in many different ways, if parents allow their natural talents to blossom with their nurturing of it. Do parents know how to recognize their natural talents that may not be academic? Some do, and some don't! 

(In this post I will post mandalas that were given for children).

JACK

In the quote it mentions the British and the Swedish children. Perhaps most Brits and Swedes put happiness above academic qualifications. Perhaps we put the hearts of our children's souls first, and encourage them to follow their hearts and not their heads.

Children have to be allowed to be who they are in their natural talents. Parents have a job to do to access those natural talents to help them to flourish in the most amazing ways. In the main, Brits don't 'pressure their children' to succeed in anything, 'pressure is out!' Children should never ever be put under any 'pressure' to do something they do not wish to do. Hence, people who do 'pressure' children experience the results of 'eating disorders' and much more.

Although the era that the academic is referring to was always strong in work ethics. As I wrote a decade ago, educators should be meeting the requirements of children, not children meeting the requirements of educators, and their policy makers. Educators of the educators must turn their hearts to the children.

How people decide on what is successful is based upon their values. The other day a school teacher spoke about what she considered was successful.  The lady considered that she had been successful because her child had gone to university and has a good job. Other parents do not have the same values. 

JORDAN

I consider I have been successful on passing on good spiritual values to my son, values that are more important than academia or a job. So whether he is in or out of work, he is happy to go with the flow. Spiritual values are far more important to a child, than anything else due to the timeline that humanity is now in. Children have to know how to cope in these rapidly changing times. 


I consider that I have been successful because my son is neither motivated by 'money or materialism.' However, he does care about the environment, and most of all he cares about people. 

Academics have to re-look at their priorities and where they are coming from. Children were not born to fund their academic careers. Children are spiritual beings having a human experience. 

EM



So what else does 'pressure' co-create? The following was shared and the question was asked. 'The UK comes in sixth ranking in the world in Index of cognitive skills and educational attainment, while the US lags behind in 17th place. [2] 

Could all the "pressure to succeed" actually be having a debilitating effect on cognitive function?' Quote from House of M. 

That's an excellent point. I would say yes. Not only on cognitive function but it also impacts on what they eat and their health. If a nation has a high level of people 'overweight', it is an indicator to do with the level of happiness experienced in childhood. The same can apply to those that are 'underweight' in Western nations. 

The USA also has the highest incidence of 'heart disease', and with such a large military and number of veterans, it is no surprise. Bereavement can also impact on the heart, and the scientists also know that the heart instructs the brain. Hence what the children view in the USA, will also impact on the children and their ability to engage in the educational process. 

The pure eyes of the children can be impacted upon by what they see and experience. Nature, nurture and environment. So if children view parents under 'pressure', that also impacts on them, and their views of life. If a child doesn't like what it views, it is often the case that it will do the opposite. For instance, if a child lives in an immaculate home, they will often prefer not to live in the same 'pressure' of being 'immaculate'. If they feel they are being 'pressured' to be so.

If children have working parents and witness them being 'under pressure' due to their work life, the children will often choose the opposite.
 If children grow up with parents that enjoy their working lives, they will choose careers that they also enjoy. 


LILIA



'Pressure' on children can impact in many different ways of how they engage with life. Not only when they are children, but also as they grow up. It can also impact on their self-esteem, because children are not a 'carbon copy' of their parents. Although some parents try to 'pressure' them into being so.

So for instance in the UK, a senior lecturer shared with me that 70% of children that do degrees, choose the degree because their parents chose it for them. Hence, many do not complete their degrees or choose a different degree after they have begun it.
SOCIAL ENGINEERING 

Due to the 'social engineering' in the UK, some children are 'pressured' in school to do particular further education and a particular degree. In my experience of working with children, that then co-creates 'depression'. 

The corporations work with governments and its policy makers; to provide a high level of degree students in subjects that they say that they require. Then they have a surplus and a pick of the crop. That results in degree students not being able to find work in what they studied and paid for.

So for instance in the 90's academic children were being 'pushed' by education to become 'scientists', at the turn of the millennium it was 'engineers'. In this decade it is the 'humanities'. 



WILL




Another contributor to the discussion said, 'Most parents praise success and not effort. That's a huge problem. The smartest people I know all have one thing in common - around the dinner table, their parents would discuss relevant news and have an actual discussion. And not about what's hip on TV or any of that.' 

Yes 'effort' very important in all areas of life. I agree about the 'discussion' and also the importance of the 'family meal' together. How much effort does dad put into help mum?

Children learn what they live. If children live in a relationship of 'equal partnership' that will impact on how they view relationships and friendships that they bond and resonate with. It also impacts on career, mums impact on relationships and dads impact on careers. 


The reply was, 'Agreed, Although Children will emulate what they also see in school - so all effort on a parents part is usually lost for many years as the child is around so many bad influences.' They recommended home schooling. 

Yes, 'peer pressure' to behave in a certain way, especially in teenage years. However, it can also work the other way around. Where what they learn at school, as far as values is concerned, is an improvement on what they have learned from parents.

So again, it does depend on the dynamics of the life of the child. A majority of children wish to 'be good' and 'do good'. What a world they have been born into. T
he children now have to face so much more than we did as children. 

Time for some music! 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m55RDNlWnLI


As we know the Native American grandparents taught the children around the campfire. I was also blessed to spend a lot of time with my grandmother. The energy and relationship between good grandparents and children is awesome. The children keep grandparents youthful in their outlook, children make them laugh, and the grandparents pass on their wisdom gained from life experience. Such a wholesome experience for children, especially when those grandparents appreciate nature and its attributes in benefitting children, and their good health. 

THE ONLY CHILD - THE FIRST BORN 
I then took a look at the research on the 'Only Child', as my mum was an only child. I was for the first seven years of my life, and so is my son. The research was revealing, and I can definitely resonate with it. [3] They found that due to the only child, and the first borns receiving all of their parents attention, they became the highest achievers and were the most motivated. Of course, that would also be increased if there was grandparents involvement; like there was in my own life. 

It isn't just about attention though is it? Its about the real love, the cuddles, the understanding, the teaching, and how it is imparted to the child to empower them in following their hearts.  


SPIRITUAL POTENTIAL 
Then another contributor Oh Brother :P, wrote, 'You don't and can't teach spirituality'. 

In my experience: Spirituality is a way of life on the rite of passage of life experience; and it is to do with right conduct. Right conduct is also to do with the way a person communicates. If a child has right conduct based upon spiritual values; it makes their navigation of life experience and its rite of passage much easier.

Pure Spirit only work with people who do have right conduct because self-discipline is as essential as the integrity required. However, this discussion is not about giving children the ability to work with Spirit, it is about helping children to flourish in the best possible way. And it begins with positivity and forgiveness. Patience is also a big one for children, I used to say to my son 'Patience is a virtue and it is something you must learn'. Now he is the most patient person that I know. When he did his value chart, compassion was the most important value to him. That proves the point of the successful manifestation, when children have been brought up in a compassionate home. 

Compassionate hearts can really change the world, I agree with the Dalai Lama, the peoples of the world will not survive without it. Compassion is the way of the heart, it is the way of the healer, the mystics, and mercy. Divine love in manifestation on the earth plane. People must be merciful and compassionate to all children, for they are the the future of the nations. 

The lives of children, and their good health depends upon it. 


1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-24551446

2. http://thelearningcurve.pearson.com/index/index-ranking

3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Only_child

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