'That's not fair', often I hear this from my students. I am sure this must sound familiar to parents. Children have a clear sense fairness these days. And they are very vocal about it when they find themselves at a disadvantage. If you are friendly with them then even across the age-difference they will make the claim to fairness. A generation back it wouldn't have occurred to us to apply same rules elders, but now they do.
Actually, I don't find much wrong about this sense of fairness. Grown-ups should set example by doing what they ask children to do - by-and-large. If we are to have a more egalitarian society tomorrow then we should encourage a clear sense of fairness and being vocal about it amongst the children.
I am however worried about the fact that children don't have as much sense of being unfair to others. I ask, 'Isn't it unfair to others if you talk while they are keeping quiet ?' and they don't get it. They don't see the urgency or symmetry in this logic. Compared to how passionate they are when they are treated unfairly, they are not troubled when their action is shown to be unfair to others. If you are dishonest then you are unfair to those around you who are honest. If you go out-of-turn then its unfair to those who are waiting for their turn.
We are some how teaching children when they are treated unfairly, but we largely ignore when their behaviour is unfair to others. Consequence of this, and the resulting crisis, can be seen daily in our life. People push each other to get into bus, they don't mind jumping red-signal. When we park we rarely think if our car would block someone else. When we honk it doesn't occur that we are encroaching on someones peace. We don't see it that way. We are becoming a society of 'don't care, won't care'.
If we fail to teach children the sense of being unfair to others, then that is the kind of society we will have tomorrow. I don't think there is enough debate, awareness and action happening about this either in schools or at home.
Actually, I don't find much wrong about this sense of fairness. Grown-ups should set example by doing what they ask children to do - by-and-large. If we are to have a more egalitarian society tomorrow then we should encourage a clear sense of fairness and being vocal about it amongst the children.
I am however worried about the fact that children don't have as much sense of being unfair to others. I ask, 'Isn't it unfair to others if you talk while they are keeping quiet ?' and they don't get it. They don't see the urgency or symmetry in this logic. Compared to how passionate they are when they are treated unfairly, they are not troubled when their action is shown to be unfair to others. If you are dishonest then you are unfair to those around you who are honest. If you go out-of-turn then its unfair to those who are waiting for their turn.
We are some how teaching children when they are treated unfairly, but we largely ignore when their behaviour is unfair to others. Consequence of this, and the resulting crisis, can be seen daily in our life. People push each other to get into bus, they don't mind jumping red-signal. When we park we rarely think if our car would block someone else. When we honk it doesn't occur that we are encroaching on someones peace. We don't see it that way. We are becoming a society of 'don't care, won't care'.
If we fail to teach children the sense of being unfair to others, then that is the kind of society we will have tomorrow. I don't think there is enough debate, awareness and action happening about this either in schools or at home.
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