This video, created by Astrid Viciano, Susan Harris, their daughters, and myself, uses satire to critique the phenomenon of child-directed surveillance. Various child “experts” declare that monitoring children’s every move is essential in order to assure the safety of their futures. Several of these individuals encourage the academization of early childhood, achieved by imposing upon children enrichment materials (e.g., Baby Einstein) and/or programs (such as a “preschool mathlete” club) to either address weaknesses or help them outpace (real or imagined) cutthroat competition.
This video was designed in order to hyperbolically emphasize both the ridiculousness of this approach and the toll it exacts in the form of overstressed parents and burned out children. Unmentioned but nonetheless true is the ironic fact that such pressure might stymie meaningful learning and achievement. With this joyless, goal-oriented approach to life and learning, as well as its usurpation of the free time necessary for developing sensory, social, and emotional skills, children’s negotiation of education may suffer considerably.
Kids Are Our Future (originally posted to class wiki November 4, 2010)