Implications of the Readings - Essay Example

Implications of the Readings Answer: The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls is a story of her life. In it she explains about her journey of life which is a life full of twists and turns that fe w people in her age could have actually experience. It is a narration of her life with all the difficulties that she faces because her father Rex Walls and her mother Rose Mary are people who are lost in their own worlds. They are careless parents who do not nurture their children according to the norms of the society. They keep on moving from one place to another because of problems with their jobs and the never ending loans. It is after a very long time that they settle in Welch in Virginia. The children learn from their surroundings and Jeanette is a very gifted child who goes ahead to complete her degree in journalism. She works her way to New York for leading a better life. Her parents provide her with a disturbed childhood but still they sow the seeds of hope and a better living in her. This can be seen from the fact when her father promises to build a glass castle for his children. She grasps things from her surrounding as well. Her parents do not impose their will on their children who are free to think and decide for themselves. The Nurture Assumption by Judith Harris is a book which presents with very bold views against the concept of nurture which has been into play by sociologists and defended by them since a very long time. This view was presented by Dorothy Corkille Briggs in her psychology handbook where she stated that the qualities of the child are actually mirror images of their parents. In a similar way Barbara Chernofsky and Diane Gage, in their book "Change Your Child's Behavior by Changing Yours," showed great support for the parental upbringing on the child’s qualities. They presented the idea that a child grasps everything that appears in his character from his parents. But Harris boldly denied these claims and she clearly put forward that parents did play a role in the upbringing of a child but the qualities and the behavior of a child are more affected by his friends and his surroundings. Harris claims that children learn what their parents teach them but they actually mould themselves and their habits according to what is normal and liked by their friends circle. These readings have implications for parents, teachers as well as counselors which should be properly understood. Parents should see from the readings of Walls that parents lay an impact on a child’s life as well. They should provide their children with freedom of thinking and opinion and they should be supported. As Jeanette Walls readings present that though her parents were not very responsible but they did not impose things upon their children and she was allowed to think freely which can be accounted as a reason for her success. She was a brilliant student. She had her own dreams which she fulfilled and completed her studies and moved ahead in life. Another thing that can be seen from her book is that the ways and methods of her parents were not shadowed in her and her siblings. They were responsible and went on to pursue their careers and in search of a better future to New York. Parents should also not blame themselves for the wrongs that their children do. They should realize the fact that though upbringing does have a role but peers and company lays a greater impact on a child’s character and qualities. In a similar way, parents of a brilliant student should also not have a misconception that it is because of all their nurturing that the child has reached there. Parents should also realize that all children are different and having one outstanding and brilliant child does not mean that all children would be the same. Harris states that all children have their ways of adapting and responding to what their parents teach them. Thus similar results and characteristics can never be expected in all children. These readings implicate essential things for teachers as well. They should be supportive for students who come from families which are not very settled as was the case with Jeanette Wall. Teachers should not underestimate students on the basis of the family background of the child. In fact they should be particularly supportive of children who face difficult times. At the same time they should not impose their opinions on students. Teachers should try to create a healthy atmosphere in the class because as Harris says that a child learns much from his peers. Thus the teacher should actually try to bring all their students to a proper track so that all of them become good company for each other and do not impose dark shadows and ugly habits in each other. It is seen that most peers of children come from schools and the educational side. Hence a teacher has a great role to play. Counselors can also shape their role if they understand these readings. They should also be supportive for students who are on the run and do not come from a family which is settled. They should encourage students to come forward. They should also understand the fact that a child learns from his peers than from his family. So when handling a difficult case of a child who lands himself in trouble, they should consider the friends group of the child and try to handle him properly to put him on the right track. They should hence not blame the parents of the child for the mischief and misbehavior of the children. In the Glass Castle it is clearly shown that Walls did not receive proper counseling because she was always on the move. Counselors should understand the situation of the student properly, providing him with proper feedback and help according to their particular situation. 2. Interview a parent, a teacher, and a counselor for their opinion on the role of parents v. the role of peer groups. Answer. I interviewed a parent, teacher and a counselor to consider their view and opinion that whether parents or peers play a greater role in the molding of the personality and qualities of the child. I chose the parent of a student who was very good at academics. The reason behind this was that I actually wanted to receive a clear opinion. I asked the mother about her child and his habits. She was very proud of her son. I asked her that what she thought actually played a role behind the success of her son. She proudly stated that it was all because of the hard work that she put in his upbringing. She stated that it was chiefly her role and the child’s father’s role that their son was doing so well at academics. She stated that since he was a child she paid great attention towards his studies. Then I asked her a clear question if she believed that whether it was parents or the peers of a child who actually played a role in the habits that a child develops. She was strongly in favor of the fact that it was the upbringing of the parents which played a major role in the life of a child. She said that if they had let their son without any proper attention he would have never concentrated on his studies and he would have entered into bad circles. Next was the interview with the teacher. The teacher also believed that it was the parents who played the greatest role and next was the part played by the peers. She was of the opinion that a child chooses his friends according to his living and what he is taught. She gave an example that a child who would be studious would usually be friends with people who are good in studies as well. She believed that it was the parents who sowed the seeds of everything that a child had. This included his outlook as well as his friends circle. So she believed that the first and foremost role was that of the parents upon which was dependant the role of peers. She also gave an example that a child who is not allowed to socialize much by his parents would never have many close friends and it was very difficult to accept the fact that peers played a major role. The counselor was the last person to be interviewed. He believed that the impact of friends was far greater as that compared to that of parents. He explained that parents leave their children to school and it is for them to then decide for themselves that what friends they choose. He said that he has had experiences with many students and he had seen students who were actually very studious turn into something exactly the opposite and according to him this was all the impct of friends. He said that a parent taught his child and forced things upon him. Whereas things that a child learns and gains from his friend are by his own free will and he actually grasps those things out of interest to fit in his social circle. 3. Discuss the effects of these books on your philosophy and the practice of education. Answer. These books have given me great lessons. The Glass Castle clearly shows that a person can pursue his life and career in a very organized manner even if his surroundings are disturbed. Hence the blame of one’s own shortcomings on others is just an escape. Jeanette Walls faces her situation bravely and comes out of it because she has hope. She could have chosen an easy way and blamed her parents for not providing her with proper educational opportunities and chances. But she chooses the difficult way which leads her to success. It also clearly teaches that a child can be normal and not suffer from mental stress as long as he has been provided with a freedom of choice and thinking. Walls believed that though her family life was disturbed her parents did not impose their views on the children. Her father used to dream of building a glass castle for them. Kahil Gabran also clearly supports this by saying that parents can actually impose restrictions on the outlook of the child but they cannot lock his thoughts and a child will always possess his own thinking. He also explains that a parent can become like his child but a parent can never expect his child to be like them. This is because time always moves ahead and it never goes back. On the other hand it is also a wrong expectation of parents to want all their children to turn out to be the same. As Judith explains that every child is born with his own thoughts. He has his own ways of responding and reacting to what he is told. His adaptations will be different from his siblings. The role of nurture should also not be overestimated. This is because though nurture does play a role in the development of a child, there have been cases when identical twins have been separated and even when they meet after years, they share similar habits and characteristics. This comes from the gene of an individual rather than the environment. If it was to be thought that nurture was the main player then there would be no proper justification of this. But again nurture should not be underestimated as well. This is because the case of the Cambodian girl can be seen who got lost in the jungle when she was very small. She was recovered after many years and she walked on fours and ate raw meat. She could not adapt to her new surroundings and she eventually ran away back to the jungle. The role of peers is also an important one. A child learns what his parents teach him because they want him to. But a child learns from his friends because it is his will and because he wants to learn from them. Females who believe that their jobs lay an bad impact on the upbringing of their child should definitely change their opinion because Judith clearly explains that research has shown that job lays no impact on the upbringing of the child. A proper education is very essential to improve the educational system from the root. Children should be made to learn rather than focus on only good grades. Their aim should be to gain knowledge which should be beneficial for them in the long run. Just knowing things without any purpose cannot be classified as proper education. Parents should provide the child with a free will to choose his career as this allows the child to use his mental skills and abilities to a proper level. A higher educational standard is more essential then the mere idea of getting educated. The Nurture Assumption is a very well written book which discusses and explains many questions that are left unlooked at and unanswered in the Glass Castle. Judith Harris has been very straightforward in explaining her principles and in a way she actually gives a clear meaning to the Glass Castle. Judith explains that peers matter more than parents do. This explanation can be taken by using the Glass Castle as an example. Jeanette Walls parents are not inclined towards a very bright future with comforts but Jeanette and her siblings look for a better future for them and do not follow in the footsteps of their parents by leading a life like nomads. They take a stand for themselves. If it were to be believed that parents played a great impact on children then the Walls siblings should have not been so career oriented and actually worked so hard for making a better life by doing small jobs and saving so that they could move to New York. This claim is clearly learnt from Judith Harris. She explains that children learn from their surroundings and thus we can say that it was the comfort of the people around the Wall’s siblings that drove them to work hard. Judith’s opinion is very well supported by her arguments. She gives an example of the immigrants whose children develop their accents according to their surroundings and not like their parents. Another perfect and convincing example is that of children who are born to deaf parents. These children talk and communicate despite of the fact that their parents cannot talk and communicate with them by talking. She is also very right when she says that genes play an important role in the qualities of a child. This is supported by Judith by the example of twins who are separated at a very early age and even when these twins meet after years, they have similar habits. This is clearly attributable to their genes because both the twins have stayed with different families for their lives. I agree with Harris when she says that peers play a greater role in shaping the character of a person. It is a common saying that a person can be identified by his friends circle. This is because these are the people that a person chooses himself to stay with. A person wants to fit in his social circle as well as adapt according to the qualities that he sees in his friends. These changes that a person brings in himself are according to his own choice. On the other hand things that parents ask their children to do are actually the opinions of their parents. The readings have given me a clear view about the philosophy of education. I believe education should never be imposed on children. They should be given their time and they should be free to decide what field they want to choose for themselves. Group work and presentations should be encouraged because it requires peers and friends to work together. Hence it enables students to work in a better way in collaboration. The education of a child is also not dependant on his parents. Thus parents are not to be blamed if their children do not study and it is the children who should be given proper counseling and attention. These readings have changed my views. The life of Jeanette Wall is an example for me that a person should not care about his surroundings but rather be focused towards his goal. It has made me more determined to work hard to achieve my goals and not to blame anyone else for the failures in one’s life. A good friend’s circle is also very important because it moulds and changes a person’s thinking. Thus I will try to maintain a very healthy working atmosphere around me as well. This will prevent me from being deviated from my aims. Thus these readings have made me more motivated. They have taught me to be very strong minded and work with full devotion and honesty towards my work and not to be diverted. References: Top of Form Briggs, D. C. (1970). Your child's self-esteem: The key to his life. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday. Bottom of Form Top of Form Harris, J. R. (1998). The nurture assumption: Why children turn out the way they do. New York: Free Press. Top of Form Top of Form Chernofsky, B., & Gage, D. (1996). Change your child's behavior by changing yours: 13 new tricks to get kids to cooperate. New York: Crown Trade Paperbacks. Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Walls, J. (2005). The glass castle: A memoir. New York: Scribner. 'Wild Cambodia jungle-girl' found BBC NEWS http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6275623.stm Bottom of Form Read More

Parents should also realize that all children are different and having one outstanding and brilliant child does not mean that all children would be the same. Harris states that all children have their ways of adapting and responding to what their parents teach them. Thus similar results and characteristics can never be expected in all children. These readings implicate essential things for teachers as well. They should be supportive for students who come from families which are not very settled as was the case with Jeanette Wall.

Teachers should not underestimate students on the basis of the family background of the child. In fact they should be particularly supportive of children who face difficult times. At the same time they should not impose their opinions on students. Teachers should try to create a healthy atmosphere in the class because as Harris says that a child learns much from his peers. Thus the teacher should actually try to bring all their students to a proper track so that all of them become good company for each other and do not impose dark shadows and ugly habits in each other.

It is seen that most peers of children come from schools and the educational side. Hence a teacher has a great role to play. Counselors can also shape their role if they understand these readings. They should also be supportive for students who are on the run and do not come from a family which is settled. They should encourage students to come forward. They should also understand the fact that a child learns from his peers than from his family. So when handling a difficult case of a child who lands himself in trouble, they should consider the friends group of the child and try to handle him properly to put him on the right track.

They should hence not blame the parents of the child for the mischief and misbehavior of the children. In the Glass Castle it is clearly shown that Walls did not receive proper counseling because she was always on the move. Counselors should understand the situation of the student properly, providing him with proper feedback and help according to their particular situation. 2. Interview a parent, a teacher, and a counselor for their opinion on the role of parents v. the role of peer groups. Answer.

I interviewed a parent, teacher and a counselor to consider their view and opinion that whether parents or peers play a greater role in the molding of the personality and qualities of the child. I chose the parent of a student who was very good at academics. The reason behind this was that I actually wanted to receive a clear opinion. I asked the mother about her child and his habits. She was very proud of her son. I asked her that what she thought actually played a role behind the success of her son.

She proudly stated that it was all because of the hard work that she put in his upbringing. She stated that it was chiefly her role and the child’s father’s role that their son was doing so well at academics. She stated that since he was a child she paid great attention towards his studies. Then I asked her a clear question if she believed that whether it was parents or the peers of a child who actually played a role in the habits that a child develops. She was strongly in favor of the fact that it was the upbringing of the parents which played a major role in the life of a child.

She said that if they had let their son without any proper attention he would have never concentrated on his studies and he would have entered into bad circles. Next was the interview with the teacher. The teacher also believed that it was the parents who played the greatest role and next was the part played by the peers. She was of the opinion that a child chooses his friends according to his living and what he is taught. She gave an example that a child who would be studious would usually be friends with people who are good in studies as well.

She believed that it was the parents who sowed the seeds of everything that a child had. This included his outlook as well as his friends circle.

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