A bizarre piece of news on the ToI website today says that sex education is to be given to 5 year-olds!
Yet, just the other day, at a bar on Palolem Beach, I got into conversation with a Canadian elementary school teacher during which we discussed how basic Economics can be taught in pre-school.
The first lesson, I proposed, would go something like this:
"Dear children. There is something you all know that has not come from any school; that has not been taught to you by any teacher. And that is: You can trade. You exchange toys and food amongst each other. Like 'give me some of your chips and I'll give you some of my cola.' Or 'give me your GI Joe and I'll give you my Barbie doll.' This ability to trade is a gift from God. It will help you all become rich some day. So understand it and safeguard it."
The second lesson, I proposed, would go like this:
"Dear children. With the ability to trade, you are also born with an innate morality that is also a gift from God. It is a morality that precedes every book ever written. It is older than the Bible, the Koran, the Granth Sahib. And this is the morality of private property. When you say 'give me your chips in exchange for my cola' you clearly understand that the chips 'belong' to someone else; that they are his property. This is the essence of your inborn morality. No school, no teacher, no Holy Book is required to teach this to you. So stay far away from Communist literature. It is immoral. Communism and socialism go against your inborn morality, which is based on the recognition of private property."
Sounds much better than sex education @ 5, what?
sounds good, makes sense
ReplyDeleteDo we need to bring "god" into this?
ReplyDeleteBest way to teach children about free trade and private property. But how many teachers understand these things themselves to teach the children?
ReplyDeleteyeah I am with anonymous, does it have to be a "gift from God"? I'd scratch that.
ReplyDeleteThere are three inherent assumptions in this
ReplyDelete1. People want to trade
2. People have a cola to trade
3. People have a barbie which is in demand
What if all these are not there?
1. People don't want to trade, they want to keep what they have
2. People don't have a cola to trade, in fact they have no money
3. Barbies are not in demand, in fact people want more of the cola that they already have.
Problem with economics is that there are too many assumptions that break at the slightest hint. In the end, it's all abstract gedankens operating.
In reality, people seem to be operating out of their innate emotional mindsets - fear, selfishness, desperation, etc.
Fear:
I don't care, I want my money back. So sell sell sell
Selfishness
I'll buy a cola so that I can get a Barbie tomorrow
Desperation
I don't care whether you want to give me your Barbie or not, I am taking it anyway, by hook or by crook
I suggest let the poor 5-year-olds have fun playing. They will learn much more on their own than have people brainwashing them towards any particular dogma