Youth is Wasted on the Young....

     This quote, in my opinion, was spoken in truth by George Bernard Shaw.  The reason I quote it is because it reminds me that there is a lot to be said for wisdom and longevity. 
     Take, for instance, my sixth grade World History class.  They are at the tender age of  "11 - going on 12".  We have been studying Mesopotamian Civilizations and have just finished a unit on the Sumerians, who were, by all accounts, the first to use writing.   We learned how only the wealthy boys went to school and when they graduated, they  became scribes.  These were highly regarded traits in Sumerian society, as the scribes could read and write and usually gained important and  pretigous employment positions.  The schooling was difficult, lasted from sun rise to sunset daily and discipline was harsh and most often physical. 
     As we were discussing this topic, one of the sixth grade boys remarked that it wasn't fair that the Sumerians had "invented school".  Always trying to teach the students to use critical thinking skills, and also hoping to challenge them to think outside of the classroom, I led them on a discussion about what they wanted to do when they finished school.  I asked, "Do you want to be a cashier at MacDonalds or did you have something else in mind?"  At first all of the students liked the idea of MacDonalds.  "Hey, you'd get free hamburgers and french fries for life," one remarked.  They all loved that idea and each had to chime in and add a comment.  I was finally able to rein them back in and each student answered the question more seriously.
      Not one of them wanted to work at MacDonalds, but everyone of them wanted to be some sort of professional....doctor, archeologist, dental surgeon, teacher, detective, computer engineer, etc.  We finally concluded that each of them would need much more education for the jobs they hoped to secure in the future.  They all agreed that education was important, although being sixth graders, I don't think they wholeheartedly believe that schooling  is of the utmost importance.   Ofcourse they don't, they are 11, after all!  There is more playing to be done and more hamburgers and french fries to be had! 
     In any case, the seed has been planted.  That's my job!  I love this age and I have to admit that sixth grade is by far my favorite.  So, as  most of us do when we grow older, they will come around.  But I still think age is wasted on the young! 
Happy Tales!