兒童的主體性 Child Subjectivity

A facebook friend worried that if I had "pressured" my son to particpate in the Anti-"Cross-border Car-Driving Scheme" March held on 19-2-2012. In my facebook wall there was a very meaningful open discussion about "child subjectivity". I post the discussion here and emphasize some good points as I see them.

昨晚把囝囝參加遊行時被有線電視拍到的樣子放上facebook後, 收到一位facebook 朋友的質疑，我有否強迫我的兒子遊行。之後在我的facebook Wall上有一個很有意義的討論, 是關於兒童主體性 (child subjectivity)的問題。兒童究竟有沒有自由意志? 兒童有什麼權利? 成人應該如何看待兒童的意見?

我把這個討論轉貼在此，並把我認為重要的句子加上克體。(Facebook朋友們, 上述的討論是公開的, 所以我相信你們也不介意我透露你的facebook 身份, 是嗎 :-)


Carbon Neutral Megafun Nigel: Does the kid knows??.......or is this an example of child-labour? or early childhood learning, HK-style????


Franklen Kin-shing Choi: Oh yes he completely knew why he came there. He can say to you he came here for better air and better road safety. Some reporters even asked him and he replied so well.


Carbon Neutral Megafun Nigel: THAT makes it even worse.......as I said....its HK-style early childhood learning......without proper understanding of all issues.......EVE if those issues are RIGHT and worthy of support.


Franklen Kin-shing Choi: Don't look down on children. They can understand basic right and wrong ideas such as environmental protection so well, provided that you talk to them in their own languages, and give them the chances to ask.


Lucetta Kam: this little boy went to the june 4th candle light vigil too when he was a baby! it's nothing to do with child labour or compulsory learning. it's a way to allow our young ones to participate in the civil society. demonstration is part of hk's everyday life! we have such a "great" government.


Carbon Neutral Megafun Nigel: i NEVER look down at children.....I merely fight for their RIGHTS against HK-style early childhood learning...........its one thing to influence a child & something else to "pressure" that child in support of your grown-up ideals......even if these ideals are reasonable for a child.


Carbon Neutral Megafun Nigel: as for baby going to candle evenings.....its great for the Mum.....doing her mothering duties.....as that baby won't have a clue.......& enjoys attentions......


Franklen Kin-shing Choi: And the best child eduation, in my point of view, integrates "concern for others and the environment" with play. The boy enjoyed sooooo much of this ride. He hoped he could help make a change for a better world.


Lucetta Kam: your idea of "hk-style early childhood learning" is problematic. i'm afraid you are over-generalized and project too much of your own anxieties and worries to any single parent or case. i hope you know franklen's family well to make any judgements. you're being very judgement and rude.


Franklen Kin-shing Choi: No Carbon your sayings are looking down on children. Your sayings disrespect their eagerness to participate in our adult life-world. You have unconsciously projected an image of child ignorance that everything they do if not in a proper "infantilized" role then they are "pressured". You unwittingly deprive their rights to be informed and to make informed decisions appropriate to their ages. Your concern for child welfare is appreciated, but I must point out that you are also disempowering them.


Mary Ann Pui Wai King: what pov is this!!! thinking kids do not have subjectivity, oh come on!!


Martin Turner Nigel: I can sort-of see where you're coming from - for sure kids grow up influenced by their parents' values (eg. with religion, but let's not go there). But would you rather we raised our children in a value-free environment, even if that were possible? It's just necessary that as they grow, they are allowed to challenge and develop their views in their own way, with parents as only one input.


Ho Loy: As a parent, I know it is very hard to learn how to trust a child with his own point of view, and therefore, the mistake like many parents do. They pretend they don't have one. But unfortunately they do. Good parents will do growing with their children. Too see and feel the world they have to deal with as long as they need them. Kids are just small in size, not in they brain.


Fish Ip: I like the discussion. Thank you all. I feel parents are sometimes scary. They think too much (though I can understand). They assume too much. We are already living in a very stressful Hong Kong. Can we just take it easy? It's just simple. Repect, be compassionate, happy, kind, let-go and leaving space for everyone.