To The Times (London)
“I was heartened to learn that in some parts of the country it is still the teacher who writes pupils’ end-of-term reports. In the Highland region, a third of the available space is given over to a learner’s statement, under which heading my daughter had written:
“At home I am responsible for looking after my hamster, this has helped me develop my leadership skills.”
Anne Johnston, Dornoch, Sutherland. (The Week, July 25th 2013)
Who puts this tripe into the minds of young children? How can teachers, presumably adult in years, allow kids to think they are doing something significant in looking after a hamster? And is this joke, after all?
Follwers of Epicurus have to have a sense of humour, if only because the majority of people think that Epicurus has something to do with the catering industry or, alternatively, orgies. In addition, Epicureans hopefully have a better clue as to the meaning of education than the folk in Dornoch, Scotland.
If a little child can lead her pet hamster to its water, she can surely lead the great British public in their opinions and political direction.
This is a very anti-hamsterian post. What if little Miss Johnston had to groom Dobbin, her pet horse? or milk Bossie, her family cow? Just because hamsters are relatively tiny and spend their lives twirling in pine chips doesn’t mean that they don’t contribute to childhood leadership skills.
Notice, too, that Miss Johnston has already acquired one skill: she knows how to game the system. Her teacher probably instructed: “Give a an example from of your everyday life of taking responsibility.”
Finally, surely Epicurus would have explained that catering, enjoying orgies, and running around cages are all fine but in moderation. 🙂