No More Spartan-Style Education

An Era Where Strictness No Longer Works

In the past, children were more inclined to follow their parents' instructions. At that time, strict and rigorous parenting styles were often referred to as "Spartan-style education." However, at some point, societal norms shifted toward emphasizing non-authoritarian approaches and nurturing children’s self-esteem, leading to a decline in strict parenting practices. Nowadays, even when children behave inappropriately in public, some parents overlook it, claiming they are fostering the child’s confidence. So, what is the best way to educate children?

[Source: Naver : "Humans Listening Only to Necessary Information"]

 

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The "Cocktail Party" Effect

The cocktail party effect refers to the human ability to selectively focus on conversations of interest even in noisy environments like cocktail parties. Although our ears are exposed to a variety of sounds throughout the day, this selective perception allows us to concentrate on the information that matters most. This concept can also be applied to education and etiquette.

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Encouraging Interest-Based Learning

Parents understand that academic success provides better opportunities in the future. As a result, they often impose stricter demands for studying as their children progress through school. This frequently causes children to pretend to study while feeling pressured, rather than genuinely enjoying the learning process. Such dynamics can lead to conflicts between parents and children.

 

In such situations, parents might consider applying the cocktail party effect from the child’s perspective. For example, if a child expresses a strong dislike for studying English but mentions wanting to become a professional gamer, parents could integrate English learning into the child’s area of interest. This could involve allowing the child to play video games but gifting them English-language versions or introducing them to gaming magazines written in English.

 

By aligning English learning with their interests, the child might naturally acquire language skills. They might even look up unfamiliar gaming terms in a dictionary or ask their friends about them. Such an approach is likely to be more effective than forcing rote memorization or grammar drills, which could extinguish any interest in the subject.

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Surrounding Them With Like-Minded, Positive Influences

If a child loves gaming, parents could encourage them to socialize with friends who are both academically successful and passionate about gaming. Human behavior is heavily influenced by the surrounding environment, and for growing children, the choice of friends is particularly critical. Children might "follow their friends to Gangnam" (a metaphor for success in Korea) or, conversely, "sink into failure together."

 

Children tend to imitate and admire peers who share similar interests. During adolescence, even if parents provide the "right answers," teenagers are often reluctant to listen. Therefore, parents need to constantly reflect on what would genuinely benefit their children’s education.

 

Rather than simply demanding that children study, parents should identify their children’s areas of interest and incorporate those into their learning process. It is time for parents to adapt their educational methods to meet the needs of a changing world.

 

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