Socialization with a stick
I think that those of us (all 3, to be precise) who have read the language socialization literature have been trained to look for the subtle ways and minute details of interactions (down to eye gaze) in which socialization occurs. But then there's that little discussed category of socialization with a stick (Erika will be familiar with this one, no doubt).
Today, I went to the all-school assembly. Assembly here is just another word for in-school religious service. The local minister comes in, and since there's really only one church in the district (ignoring the Anglican convent, which most people are happy to do), it's the same one every time. I'd say he's a right-of-center Calvinist Prebyterian, if there is such a thing as a liberal Calvinist.
It must be one of the huge challenges of minister-hood to prepare a 30 minute religious indoctrination, I mean, school assembly for children ranging in age from 4 1/2 to 15. It's not a job I'd like to have. But what can you do when you're a minister?! But one wonders what the children get from it, especially the younger ones.
So he expouded the part of Genesis on Adam and Eve for the children -after mumbling through the King James version. In particular, he focused on the fact that Adam had been given a rule to obey by God (and even the smallest children here know that Adam got in trouble over this one -though thankfully there was no Eve-bashing). He proceeded to compare this to the speed limit when driving.
And why, dear children, should we obey the speed limit, he asks.
At this point, anyone above the age of 6 is half-asleep, but the wee ones are eager to participate.
"Because if you don't, you crash" says one.
Good, but not what the minister is loooking for.
"Because if children are playing in the road, you could hurt them."
Not bad, but keep trying.
"Because it's dangerous."
Yes -but no.
I thought all of these were good answers, BTW.
So why should we obey the speed limit?
"Because if we don't, the police may catch us and we would get punished."
Amen.
Today, I went to the all-school assembly. Assembly here is just another word for in-school religious service. The local minister comes in, and since there's really only one church in the district (ignoring the Anglican convent, which most people are happy to do), it's the same one every time. I'd say he's a right-of-center Calvinist Prebyterian, if there is such a thing as a liberal Calvinist.
It must be one of the huge challenges of minister-hood to prepare a 30 minute religious indoctrination, I mean, school assembly for children ranging in age from 4 1/2 to 15. It's not a job I'd like to have. But what can you do when you're a minister?! But one wonders what the children get from it, especially the younger ones.
So he expouded the part of Genesis on Adam and Eve for the children -after mumbling through the King James version. In particular, he focused on the fact that Adam had been given a rule to obey by God (and even the smallest children here know that Adam got in trouble over this one -though thankfully there was no Eve-bashing). He proceeded to compare this to the speed limit when driving.
And why, dear children, should we obey the speed limit, he asks.
At this point, anyone above the age of 6 is half-asleep, but the wee ones are eager to participate.
"Because if you don't, you crash" says one.
Good, but not what the minister is loooking for.
"Because if children are playing in the road, you could hurt them."
Not bad, but keep trying.
"Because it's dangerous."
Yes -but no.
I thought all of these were good answers, BTW.
So why should we obey the speed limit?
"Because if we don't, the police may catch us and we would get punished."
Amen.
posted by Ness @ 11:06 PM
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