[MadameX]

Originally Posted by Baba Ahmed

May I (a husband, father, grandfather) suggest that much of our confusions re child rearing arises bcause we lack general knowledges of our own cultures: ancient, traditional and today's. So we're left to sift through what's taught to everybody involved in schools, churches and of course the mass media along with its "cute" commercials that appear "funny" or ridiculous.

There has to be major differences of child rearing philosophies and methods simply bcause we come from different historical worldviews. American institutional teachings are structured to make it appear as if there's only one: their's.

Taint so.

One example, I've seen at various online forum sites raging arguments for and against whipping, punishing a child. Yet when asked, i.e., Black folk, to point to one Afrikan society who did/does not whip their children? Silence is the reply.

Like wars by Afrikan nations (when they had military might) were established to bring a society back into balance. A child who is taught by default to do whatever she or he pleases? Is outta balance. No one can do that w/o consequences. Even the leaders of this military powerful nation.

Re modern times in the U.S. of Anglos, I've long held that the likes of a Maria Montessori and Dr. Wm Spock have largely influenced child rearing in Amerikkka.

Valid point about the redundancy of this type of forum questions.