学进去

For kids like me, being called childish can be a frequent occurrence. Every time we make irrational demands or exhibit irresponsible behavior, we are called childish. Take a look at these events:imperialism, colonization, world wars, etc. Who’s responsible? Adults.

What have kids done? Anne Frank touched millions with her powerful account of the Holocaust, Ruby Bridges helped to end segregation in the United States, and, most recently, Charlie Simpson helped to raise 120,000 pounds for Haiti on his little bike. 1． The traits the word childish addresses are seen so often in adults that we should delete this age-discriminatory word when it comes to criticizing behavior associated with irresponsibility and irrational thinking.

Then again, who’s to say that certain types of irrational thinking aren’t exactly what the world needs? Maybe you’ve had grand plans before but stopped yourself, thinking, “That’s impossible,” or, “That costs too much,” or, “That won’t benefit me.” 2． Kids can be full of inspiring aspirations and hopeful thinking. Like my wish that no one went hungry or that everything were a free kind of utopia (不切实际的空想). Sometimes a knowledge of history and the past failures of utopian ideals can be a burden because you know that if everything were free, then the food stocks would become depleted and scarce and lead to chaos. But in order to make anything a reality, you have to dream about it first.

3． For instance, the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington, has a program called Kids Design Glass, and kids draw their own ideas for glass art. The resident artists said they got some of their best ideas through the program because kids don’t think about the limitations of how hard it can be to blow glass into certain shapes; they just think of good ideas.

Our inherent wisdom doesn’t have to be insiders’ knowledge. Kids already do a lot of learning from adults, and we have a lot to share. I think that adults should start learning from kids. Learning between grownups and kids should be reciprocal (相互对等的). 4． If you don’t trust someone, you place restrictions on them. Adults seem to have a universally restrictive attitude towards kids from every “don’t do that, don’t do this” in the school handbook to restrictions on school Internet use. Kids have no or little say in making the rules. The adult population should learn and take into account the wishes of the younger population.