Socializing Overemphasis

 

I would like to quote a paragraph from Page 61 of my 2010 book, Notes Towards A New Age: “A few years ago the paper mentioned some fool child psychologist suggesting that 4 year old preschoolers need to go to class to learn socialization skills and to gain a sense of individual identity.”

 

My response: It seems likely that very young children need lots of socializing by being with their parents, their friends, their siblings, their extended families, and their school mates. No one can be civilized or ever happy if one does not learn to cooperate, share, play and to be courteous to others.

 

I fail to see how excessive or overemphasis on socialization will lead each preschooler to gain a sense of individual identity. Each child requires socializing to gain a social identity, or group-orientedness, but each child simultaneously must learn to spend quality time alone to learn, grow and self-development and this individual orientation is where she best will acquire her individual identity as a lifelong self-realizer.

 

Here is the rest of the paragraph: “These two goals are opposite in value to each other. School teaches socialization and uniformity, breaking kids, converting them into lifelong lovers of the mob, making them institutional groupies. Another year at home will heighten their sense of individual identity and make them work harder and be a bit more exceptional.”

 

My response: That extra year at home, if the parents are wise and involved, to teach the child to maverize at some beginning level, could make all the difference. We want children to be socialized, but we do not want altruistic group-livers that run with the pack.