Foto: F Cardigos.
I remember an old chronicle of Vasco Pulido Valente, in Público, which divided the world of education for children between what was true and the rest. This brilliant chronicler, for example, stated that the stories that reported impossible friendships between animals should be banned. For example, I add, friendship between cats and rats or bears and tigers in Malaysia, the first by ecological impossibility and the second also by geographical impossibility, are not pedagogical and cause embarrassment in the "self-consciousness" of children. That is, if the pets are so "dear", "they speak", "why do I have to eat them?", implying their death?! This not to mention the farce of the century: the Santa Claus...
Should we inspire the imagination of children with lies and impossibilities or strengthen their identity with the hard truth. I have no answer, only opinion. My opinion is ... there are days and there are limits. A strange answer?! Maybe not. My experience as a parent is that children know and distinguish between what is pragmatic and imaginary friends from the world of the imagination of adults. The house cat and the Puss in Boots are different entities whose only similarity is both meow in the same way, except when the one with the boots makes his long serenades... The Duck, Pocoyo's friend, and the duck that appears in the rice are also different entities being that the one in the rice is very tasty, but not so funny.Then... and what is the limit? The limit, in my very humble opinion, is when the imaginary animals are replaced by the actual animals. The films in which animals are placed ridiculously moving their lips in imitation of real words, are not educational and mix the limits drawn by children. Attention, I like some excellent cinematography approaches, but I just think they should be presented to children after they have the ability to distinguish and find the amusement. Otherwise, they just get confused ...
What is clearly beyond the limit of tolerance is to use the world of imagination to stimulate consumerism and selfishness of children. This is devastating. Santa Claus, no thanks! For my children, Santa Claus will always be a farce since they were born. "Santa Claus does not exist" is one of the concepts that have rooted since they remember hearing words. So, they were never targeted by that ridiculous blackmail, in my opinion, "if you do not behave well, Santa Claus will not bring you a gift."
Everything I stated earlier is debatable. I admit. Every father and mother, better than anyone, know what educational approach serves their children. What is not debatable, however, is the poor service that some companies are doing to our children. The other day, I was quietly having lunch in one of those cafes that have the television on. Thus, while having lunch, I was listening and watching the news, exchanging views on the day to day, becoming more knowledgeable and increasing the citizenship that is expected of us all. So far, so good. Reinforcing, what we were seeing was what, potentially, all children on this country could be watching. At a certain point, on news of TVI, they began to show a woman being whipped. I could not believe it ... How can you ...? The news said that she had committed the crime of "using trousers". Still half puzzled, I asked the waiter to change the channel because I refused to be in the same space in which such images were broadcast. I think he did not notice at first because he had other things to do and so I had to be clearer. "I refuse to be dealing with images of a television channel that broadcasts this barbarous acts, like a woman being whipped." Using absolutely immoral acts, as the way some States treat women, to increase audiences, and additionally expose our children to those disorders is too intolerable for me and for the education we want for our children. Half a second later, the waiter changed the channel.
This Christmas, we could focus on children. I think that more than gifts, they will acknowledge the construction of an education based on truth and well-structured values. It's what I intend to do.
(esta página em Português)
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