What schools call "socialization" seems to really mean "learning the norms of a completely artificial social environment directed by well-meaning but slightly batty adults". Example: at my school, the student judged "best-behaved" in each class earns a sticker at the end of the day; not terribly original, I know, but moderately effective. So today, one of the first-graders decides to give a couple of her stickers from last month to her friends. Her teacher sees this and reminds her "If you're giving out stickers, you have to give them to everyone." So I lean across the table to this teacher and say "Why? You don't."
Last edited by zhian; 01/21/10 11:31 AM.
