The Ability To Read Becomes Devalued When

Plato--who May Have Understood Better What Forms The Mind Of Man Than Do Some Of Our Contemporaries Who Want Their Children Exposed Only To "real" People And Everyday Events--knew What Intellectual Experience Made For True Humanity. He Suggested That The Future Citizens Of His Ideal Republic Begin Their Literary Education With The Telling Of Myths, Rather Than With Mere Facts Or So-called Rational Teachings.

Since There Are Thousands Of Fairy Tales, One May Safely Guess That There Are Probably Equal Numbers Where The Courage And Determination Of Females Rescue Males, And Vice Versa.

The Child Intuitively Comprehends That Although These Stories Are Unreal, They Are Not Untrue.

What Children Learn From Punishment Is That Might Makes Right. When They Are Old And Strong Enough, They Will Try To Get Their Ownback; Thus Many Children Punish Their Parents By Acting In Ways Distressing To Them.

To Be Told That Our Child's Behavior Is "normal" Offers Little Solace When Our Feelings Are Badly Hurt, Or When We Worry That Hisactions Are Harmful At The Moment Or May Be Injurious To His Future. It Does Not Help Me As A Parent Nor Lessen My Worries When My Child Drives Carelessly, Even Dangerously, If I Am Told That This Is "normal" Behavior For Children Of His Age. I'd Much Prefer Him To Deviate From The Norm And Be A Cautious Driver!