undermining the teacher’s authority would most likely lead to behavior I don’t want, like distrust and hostility.
Unless, of course, the children learned to differentiate ‘respect’ of the social kind (the only important part for social success at school) from respect of the kind where actual merit is relevant. This is an invaluable lesson in its own right. (By my observation the social necessity of showing respect to an authority figure may actually have an inverse correlation with their merit—unless you actually wish to challenge them.)
Again, this isn’t a criticism of your decision, which I think is a practical one. Just a consideration some need to account for depending on psychological makeup of their children.
The religious training seems like a small thing?
Utterly trivial. Makes almost no difference. :)
This is actually a case where The Santa Deception may actually be a good thing. One approach I may consider would be to teach my kids the necessary religion myself, actively. I’d tell them all the right religious stories, and intersperse those stories with fairy tales and stories of Santa. All in the same tone and cheery enthusiasm.
I can still ace the religious questions when I go along to trivia nights at church with my Christian friends. There is no reason my kids can’t too. :)
By my observation the social necessity of showing respect to an authority figure may actually have an inverse correlation with their merit—unless you actually wish to challenge them.
Sometimes I get into trouble with this, and have to explain to somebody whom I respect that I didn’t show them as much respect as I showed another because I actually respect them more (and probably actually respected them too much, but I don’t say that). Mostly this is not authority figures, however.
Unless, of course, the children learned to differentiate ‘respect’ of the social kind (the only important part for social success at school) from respect of the kind where actual merit is relevant. This is an invaluable lesson in its own right. (By my observation the social necessity of showing respect to an authority figure may actually have an inverse correlation with their merit—unless you actually wish to challenge them.)
Again, this isn’t a criticism of your decision, which I think is a practical one. Just a consideration some need to account for depending on psychological makeup of their children.
Utterly trivial. Makes almost no difference. :)
This is actually a case where The Santa Deception may actually be a good thing. One approach I may consider would be to teach my kids the necessary religion myself, actively. I’d tell them all the right religious stories, and intersperse those stories with fairy tales and stories of Santa. All in the same tone and cheery enthusiasm.
I can still ace the religious questions when I go along to trivia nights at church with my Christian friends. There is no reason my kids can’t too. :)
Up-voted for this:
Sometimes I get into trouble with this, and have to explain to somebody whom I respect that I didn’t show them as much respect as I showed another because I actually respect them more (and probably actually respected them too much, but I don’t say that). Mostly this is not authority figures, however.