October 1 Homework

Chapter 1
Everytime a baby is born there is a new chance for a better person to exist on our planet, who can create a better, peaceful, loving world.

Chapter 2
Education begins at birth and should incorporate all aspects of the human in order to create a healthy normalized person.

Chapter 3
There are three stages to human growth. The greatest changes occur from 0-6 and 12-18. After 18 we only grow in age.

Chapter 4
People and animals live two lives, one as parent and one as a member of society. Our better half comes through with our children.

Chapter 5
Nature is brilliant. Every organ in our body is intricate and all the organs are interconnected yet man is created from a single cell.

Chapter 6
The newborn baby is like the single cell. He is about to transform through absorbing his environment in to a man of his time that can accomplish wonders.

Chapter 7
Surroundings and experiences in childhood have an immense effect on the spirit of man. You cannot change or fix an adult. To influence society we must turn our attention to childhood.

Chapter 8
It is normal for a child to want to be mentally and physically independent. A child achieves freedom through constant movement, work and interaction with the environment.

Chapter 9
At first a child must remain with his mother but then needs mental stimulation through social interactions for psychological health.

Chapter 10
Learning your first language happens effortlessly through absorption. It is incredible how easily and effortlessly a child learns to speak correctly by the age of 6.

Chapter 11
Hearing human voices stimulates and excites a baby more than any other sound. Babies need to be exposed to adult language spoken clearly.

Chapter 12
If children do not or cannot communicate or be understood it may cause tantrums and if they are not gently encouraged to speak it can cause a permanent difficulty with speech.

Chapter 13
Mental development and physical development go hand in hand. Work is inseparable from movement.

Quotes and experiences…
1. "It is because the adult cannot always understand what the little child is trying to say that the child’s bouts of irritation and anger occur…All his efforts if not crowned with success, provoke him to rage." (128)

2. "…It often happens that a child does not react violently. It might be better if they did, because the child who gets angry has discovered how to defend himself, and may then develop normally. But when he replies by a change of character, or by taking refuge in abnormality, his whole life has been damaged. Adults are unaware of this and think there is nothing to worry about unless the child gets angry." (p132)

3. "I have worked for a long time…trying to make myself the child’s interpreter, and have noted with surprise how if you try to do this for them, they come running to look for you, as if understanding that here is someone who can help them."(p133)

4. "It seems clear that the tiny child’s basic need for order takes priority over all other social claims that the world may make upon him." (135)

I found chapter 12 very interesting; I had to pick four quotes and examples because I felt they all were connected. I was reminded of experiences with my son (3) and daughter (4 ½) and one of my students, named E (4 1/2).

My son C just turned three. C is having a lot of tantrums lately. The minute something does not go as expected or requires effort he gets furious and cannot be calmed down until we can figure out and mend the disorder that has disturbed him. This rage is shocking to us but to read that this is normal and actually a healthy response is a comfort.

Next I think of E my student who is 4 ½ and does not speak clearly and is very hard to understand. When you ask her to repeat herself she does but lately is beginning to respond with "Just forget it." It is easier to just give up than have to repeat herself continually to everyone. I see now that the fight to communicate in C may be better than E giving up.

E’s friend M also 4 1/2 speaks perfectly but since school began she is spending more and more time with E and she has begun to talk like E- using a silly babyish voice. It worries me because she doesn’t know that E isn’t trying to be silly (although E does act silly to cover up her difficulty with speaking.) I'm not sure what to say or do. I am worried that M will offend E. I have simply told M I don’t understand her and to please speak clearly when she is talking to an adult.

Finally, I think of how fortunate my son is to have his big sister. She is his best interpreter. When ever I don’t know what he has said I ask my daughter and she always knows. Fortunately her ability to translate has not diminished C's need to talk and make himself heard.