"You see,” said the stick, “there were as pretty little children once as you could wish to see, and might have been so still if they had been only left to grow up like human beings, and then handed over to me; but their foolish fathers and mothers, instead of letting them pick flowers, and make dirt-pies, and get birds’ nests, and dance round the gooseberry bush, as little children should, kept them always at lessons, working, working, working, learning week-day lessons all week-days, and Sunday lessons all Sunday, and weekly examinations every Saturday, and monthly examinations every month, and yearly examinations every year, everything seven times over, as if once was not enough, and enough as good as a feast—till their brains grew big, and their bodies grew small, and they were all changed into turnips, with little but water inside; and still their foolish parents actually pick the leaves off them as fast as they grow, lest they should have anything green about them.”
from Kingsley's The Water Babies
(Linking up with Wednesdays with Words this week, as usual!)
Wow, what imagery! This is why I'm so glad I found CM. Otherwise, after growing up in public school and being a public school teacher for years, along with the mindset that the earlier my kids learn "stuff" the better, my kids may have changed into turnips, too. Ha!
ReplyDeleteRight? So happy my kids are still real live children and not turnips. ;)
DeleteA great entry for the commonplace! And what a poignant reminder to just let the children be children.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it striking? I think that CM knew what she was about. :)
DeleteI'm so glad it is usual to link up because you choose such wonderful passages. Your passage about letting children be children pairs interestingly with Amy Jo's passage about letting children grow up. Fascinating. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Dawn! Those two cautions go perfectly hand in hand.
DeleteWhat a great image and a great reminder! I really like that quote.
ReplyDelete