Humanist Guide to Early Childhood Education

[JohanN]

Can anyone advise in this regard. Is there a humanist guide to parenting in a SA context?
A counter for the predominant Christian education found in almost all suburban Pretoria pre-schools?
And, lastly, how should one approach this, without alienating and 'othering' one's child in the process?

[Jacques]

Hi Johan. There's nothing written for a South African context that I'm aware of on parenting per se. Hans Pietersen has a book called Vrese van ons Vaders on religion in the public schooling system, but that's not really what you're after. This is one of the things on our to-do list, though - even though I realise that's not much help to you now.

The American Humanist Association has a few articles on this: http://www.americanhumanist.org/parenting plus links to other resources that might be helpful: http://www.americanhumanist.org/Parenting/resources

As for your closing question, I'm not a parent, so I'd just be speculating here. But I'd suggest that encouraging a questioning and critical - rather than dogmatic - mindset might help avoid children being alienated and othered. You probably don't want young children causing fights about these sorts of things, because they'd usually lack the arguments to back them up. But they can learn many of the important arguments and pieces of evidence quite easily - check out the new Dawkins book ("The Magic of Reality"), written for younger folk. It explains all the important stuff in very accessible ways.

[JohanN]

Thank you Jacques,
I have taken a very brief look at the IHEU pages - a lot of info there.
We have a very critical home environment in which our daughter is raised. She has learned and is encouraged to question almost everything (including, to an extent, our own authority). She has in recent weeks started asking why we don't pray at dinner or any other time, and why we don't attend church, as she is taught at school. My answer is that I don't believe in god/s and don't find it necessary therefore to attend church. She accepts this as being our norm, but in her childish innocence, revealed what is actually happening at school. Now, generally, I don't really pay much attention to religious persons 'praying for my soul and redemption'. How can I knowing that it makes no difference to me or them whatsoever. However, when this is insinuated at school, that we are wrong in our dis/nonbelief, it undermines the our authority as parents, and our rights to raise our children in religious freedom (read free from religion!).

I don't really want to confront the school in this regard, as we knew full well that the school is predominantly Christian. At the same time, she is aware of the violence, terror and disaster in the world, so often attributed to religion. She often asks why that happens to people when god loves them - as she is taught at school. My answer to that: I'm like the god you are taught about at school, I'm really your father, and love you very, very much. As far as it is my power to do, I will always look after you and protect you. Now, if you watch the poor child in some war torn part of the world, do you think that Jesus loves him/her as much I do you? Do you think he cares? Do you think he's real then, if he doesn't?

It's astounding what this approach has done so far. I'm giving her the choice, based on fact. She understands the choice and asks that very same question at school. The result: the teachers are stumped for answers - from the mouth of babes - and hopefully begin to question there own preconceived ideas.

Thanks for this forum. I can see that it has the potential to fulfill a very real need in SA as far as people such as me are concerned.
Cheers,
Johan

[Hansieslim]

Hi Johan

I have started an NGO specifically with the idea of taking on schools who still operate in the old CNE way and force Calvinism onto pupils. The organisation is called OGOD - Organisasie vir Godsdienste-Onderrig en Demokrasie. We're in the starting phase still but already have a number of schools targeted. You'll also find OGOD on Facebook.

If you're interested you're welcome to contact me.

Regards
Hans

[JohanN]

Hi Hans,
Great idea! I'd be interested to see what the response will be. If like-minded teachers etc.  should get on board, it has the potential to become the antithesis of the current 'CVO' system. Might be the first step to true secular schooling and education.

Keep me posted on developments,
Johan

[dre]

I don't have anything specifically fo SA but I'm currently reading "Raising Freethinkers" whic I am finding to be a great resource so far. My kids are 3 and 1 yrs old so I am starting to think about this very issue.

I've jus enrolled my older kid into preschool and was amazed a how certain preschools encourage Christian 'values' alongside prayer and song at Friday assembly.