Social Justice - How Far Do We Go?

[leviathan13]

I’m not sure why the OP is so upset by the notion that schools should teach kids to get along with each other. It seems like a very good idea to me.

 

Do you get along with everyone in life?

 

---------- Post added 21-01-2018 at 01:14 ----------

 

Forcing children into uncomfortable situations is a good thing. Having to socialise with someone you wouldn't usually can break down barriers. Lets say the chief school bully finds themselves sitting in the class with a group of victims. Now that bully feels uncomfortable and vulnerable now they are out numbered amongst their victims. Now they experience the same feelings of isolation. Either that or they have to start mixing with others they never even contemplated. That's where the barriers should come down.

 

As for everyone being equal and none should feel worst or better off than another. I definitely think every person should have a level playing field when they first start out in life when it comes to access to education a stable home etc. It's a shame that as a society we can't seem to get this bit right. But if everyone had a good start in life, whatever they do with that start is their business after that.

 

'Forcing children...'? Is that a good thing. Surely we should just allow children to be just that... children.

 

And children should be friends with everyone? Will you be saying that when it's birthday party time and you're having to pay for 30 kids because you don't want to force your child to whittle down the amount of friends they're allowed to invite?

 

And agreed, it's not how you start the race, it's how you finish. However, children need to learn from making mistakes. Forcing them to be friends with everyone puts them in a vulnerable position for later in life. I would think that they'd learn to trust everyone, instead of showing caution when meeting people who are unfamiliar. Without trying to be hyperbolic, i'm getting at, say, young girls believing that they should automatically trust any man who approaches them because they've been taught that everyone is friendly.

 

In a perfect world, you would have a point. But with human nature being as it is, and that we don't live in a perfect world, our children need to be prepared and that preparation comes from learning.

[ENG601PM]

And agreed, it's not how you start the race, it's how you finish. However, children need to learn from making mistakes. Forcing them to be friends with everyone puts them in a vulnerable position for later in life. I would think that they'd learn to trust everyone, instead of showing caution when meeting people who are unfamiliar. Without trying to be hyperbolic, i'm getting at, say, young girls believing that they should automatically trust any man who approaches them because they've been taught that everyone is friendly.

 

In a perfect world, you would have a point. But with human nature being as it is, and that we don't live in a perfect world, our children need to be prepared and that preparation comes from learning.

 

Quoted for truth. Training children to implicitly trust everyone (children), then telling them to trust no one (adults) is a recipe for confused children and unexpected poor outcomes.

 

Jamie Bulger.

[Halibut]

Do you get along with everyone in life?

 

---------- Post added 21-01-2018 at 01:14 ----------

 

 

'Forcing children...'? Is that a good thing. Surely we should just allow children to be just that... children.

 

And children should be friends with everyone? Will you be saying that when it's birthday party time and you're having to pay for 30 kids because you don't want to force your child to whittle down the amount of friends they're allowed to invite?

 

And agreed, it's not how you start the race, it's how you finish. However, children need to learn from making mistakes. Forcing them to be friends with everyone puts them in a vulnerable position for later in life. I would think that they'd learn to trust everyone, instead of showing caution when meeting people who are unfamiliar. Without trying to be hyperbolic, i'm getting at, say, young girls believing that they should automatically trust any man who approaches them because they've been taught that everyone is friendly.

 

In a perfect world, you would have a point. But with human nature being as it is, and that we don't live in a perfect world, our children need to be prepared and that preparation comes from learning.

 

Schools don't 'force' children to be friends with everyone, but they strongly encourage the notion that they should be able to get along with others and work with them - even if they don't particularly like them. Besides, the notion that you can force someone to be someone's friend is simply ridiculous.

 

I work with people who I don't particularly like sometimes and wouldn't choose as friends, but I treat them respectfully and professionally and we work together productively. I encourage children to do likewise.

 

---------- Post added 21-01-2018 at 08:29 ----------

 

Quoted for truth. Training children to implicitly trust everyone (children), then telling them to trust no one (adults) is a recipe for confused children and unexpected poor outcomes.

 

Jamie Bulger.

 

Does anyone actually do this though?

[ENG601PM]

 

Does anyone actually do this though?

 

I don't know but that's the implication as reported and discussed. Encouraging collaboration is a different thing but I can see how that might be pushed into encouraging friendship by certain people with the best intentions but a poor grasp on what they are doing.