People used to come of age at a much younger age. Typically, in past ages, a girl is deemed a woman at about 12 (usually when her period starts), and a boy is deemed a man at about 15. Back then, adulthood is recognised together with physical maturity. But does it mean adults back then lack mental/emotional maturity? I do not think so. I think they were deemed adults in all sense of the word.
Then why is it that reaching adulthood in modern days now take so much more time? Nowadays, depending on the country, people are recognised as adults from ages usually ranging between 18 and 21 (there are more extreme cases too). So are our 12 to 15 year olds still kids? Why are they growing up slower?
Is it about the skills they need to survive in a modern age? Back in the past, when life was simpler, a person probably needed education before they could survive in society. Learn a trade (which was probably your parents') and earn a living with that trade. Make the simple things you needed to survive, and trade or pay for these rest.
Nowadays, as we make more and more things, as we specialise more and more, there are many more "trades" that we can use to survive in this world. But to learn these "trades" now, you needed more specific knowledge over a broader base (like a deeper understanding of a wide range of knowledge from maths, physics, chemistry, geography, etc.) Learning all these takes time. And coupled with this is that most people nowadays, given the wider options available on how to make a living, may want to choose to do something other that what their parents did. To give them the ability to choose, we have to provide them with knowledge over a wider range of subjects, some of which they will eventually use to learn their "trades".
But does more time in school, learning these subjects, mean that they are still kids? Does it mean they lack mental and emotional maturity to be adults? Or can they actually develop that maturity, if only we let them? If only we don't shelter them?
Maybe primary/elementary school should be a place to introduce the various "trades" available, for people to start thinking about what they want to do. And from 13 years of age, they start learning that specific "trade" (probably by starting to acquire more specific knowledge in related/supporting subjects before moving on to learn the "trade" proper.) By 15, we can consider them adults and those who have already learnt something to survive in society can start working life, while those that need more time to learn their "trades" can start an apprenticeship, commencing on adult life too.
Maybe it is time to stop sheltering our children and start educating them to fend for themselves at an earlier age.
After all, how many of us actually use all those subjects that we learnt in school in our daily lives? Learning early European history doesn't help the mechanical engineer become better at his job. I am sure the local baker doesn't think about calculus when he is making bread. The bus driver probably has no use for the periodic table when driving around.
Just a spin-off thought that came into my mind as I was walking around today...
Then why is it that reaching adulthood in modern days now take so much more time? Nowadays, depending on the country, people are recognised as adults from ages usually ranging between 18 and 21 (there are more extreme cases too). So are our 12 to 15 year olds still kids? Why are they growing up slower?
Is it about the skills they need to survive in a modern age? Back in the past, when life was simpler, a person probably needed education before they could survive in society. Learn a trade (which was probably your parents') and earn a living with that trade. Make the simple things you needed to survive, and trade or pay for these rest.
Nowadays, as we make more and more things, as we specialise more and more, there are many more "trades" that we can use to survive in this world. But to learn these "trades" now, you needed more specific knowledge over a broader base (like a deeper understanding of a wide range of knowledge from maths, physics, chemistry, geography, etc.) Learning all these takes time. And coupled with this is that most people nowadays, given the wider options available on how to make a living, may want to choose to do something other that what their parents did. To give them the ability to choose, we have to provide them with knowledge over a wider range of subjects, some of which they will eventually use to learn their "trades".
But does more time in school, learning these subjects, mean that they are still kids? Does it mean they lack mental and emotional maturity to be adults? Or can they actually develop that maturity, if only we let them? If only we don't shelter them?
Maybe primary/elementary school should be a place to introduce the various "trades" available, for people to start thinking about what they want to do. And from 13 years of age, they start learning that specific "trade" (probably by starting to acquire more specific knowledge in related/supporting subjects before moving on to learn the "trade" proper.) By 15, we can consider them adults and those who have already learnt something to survive in society can start working life, while those that need more time to learn their "trades" can start an apprenticeship, commencing on adult life too.
Maybe it is time to stop sheltering our children and start educating them to fend for themselves at an earlier age.
After all, how many of us actually use all those subjects that we learnt in school in our daily lives? Learning early European history doesn't help the mechanical engineer become better at his job. I am sure the local baker doesn't think about calculus when he is making bread. The bus driver probably has no use for the periodic table when driving around.
Just a spin-off thought that came into my mind as I was walking around today...
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