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closeI had an interesting conversation with a 10-year-old. He lives somewhere in my head and often comes out when I need some common sense. He said: “We’re all just products of our environment.” He went on, “I like it because it gives me an excuse for being who I am. Takes the sting out of it. When I do something wrong, I relieve the guilt/problem by simply saying, ‘I’m sorry; I’m just a product of my environment.’
“I appreciate adults giving me the opportunity to use it as a crutch. It’s done wonders for my all important self-esteem. And why wouldn’t it? I’m no longer responsible. It was the neighborhood’s fault or the school’s fault or the second-hand smoke and car emissions fault, or those awful power lines across the street. But, if you guys, the adults, can agree that I am indeed a product of my environment, you need to think more about where that environment begins.
“Shucks, I’ve been living at home for 10 years. And unless something happened at the hospital — and I’ll be glad to use that as an excuse — most of my self has been developed (or not) by the folks I’ve been living with.
“This stuff you worry about at schools started at my house. Who’s creating my environment these days? Well, the guy paying the rent, whoever’s got a car that works, somebody who’s bringing home the groceries and the great action movies I get to watch; somebody who’s dating mom or dad or maybe just somebody who hangs out here a lot.
“I suppose there might be someone legally responsible for me, the 10-year-old, and that’s the person you need to sic the government on. Someone who might get me up in the mornings, fix my breakfast, get me off to school, take me to the dentist — stuff like that. If they don’t fill me up, someone else might. We had a house painter last summer and he created a great environment. We talked about fishing while mom and dad were at work. That painter sure filled me with some interesting stuff.
“You adults want government to fix me? Have those responsible for me return to school and learn about love, responsibility and raising kids. Put them in night classes and Saturday school when I don’t do well. That’s what kids my age have to do. What could be more important?
“You guys have put the cart before the horse with this school thing. Placing the burden of raising me on my teachers is not fair to them or me. My environment began at home, and asking a teacher to straighten out 10 years of the glass being filled by someone else’s junk is giving her a monumental task. I’ve had 10-plus years to get pretty screwed up.
“You guys need to get the government involved in my environment from the get-go when it can really make a difference. Then, when I don’t work out, you/we, can lay the problem at the foot of the next elected official.
“Visit most classrooms and you will see teachers doing all they can to fill my glass up, but sometimes I come in just too darn full — too full of my environment. I’m confused, sleepy and hungry. I’ve been filled up with television, daycare stuff, MTV, BET and all I really wanted was a few minutes of my mom’s and dad’s time. Yep, I’ll vote green all right. I’ll vote to save an environment: mine.”
I guess you could say I became speechless (well, I didn’t want anyone to hear me talking to myself.)
Sonny Harmon is an educator at Georgia Military College. Visit his blog at http://sharmon09.blogspot.com/
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