What We Used to Know

Kids today learn very differently from the way they used to learn.

Bon Ami – a cleaning powder that’s been around for a long time has used the logo of a chick with the caption, “Hasn’t scratched yet.” Kids today have no correlation to that motto.

While they have the Internet, standards of learning and smartphones, maybe grandma and grandpa’s education had its own benefits.

Sex education wasn’t taught in school – there was no need. Kids grew up seeing horses, cows and dogs having sex and giving birth. Barn cats, who kept the mice under control had a short life span, but lots of kittens to replace them. Seeing newborn kittens or puppies before their eyes were open was routine, but always exciting.

Similarly, death was a normal part of life. Not all kittens and puppies survived and the older animals eventually died. Grandpa expected to die in his own bed, surrounded by family, then placed in a coffin which was kept in the family parlor for the requisite 3 days. He may have even been buried right there on the family farm.

With no supermarkets, there was no illusion that meat magically grew in plastic wrapped Styrofoam trays. It was understood that the first step in preparing a chicken dish was to kill a chicken. Similarly, if the pig or cow lovingly raised for the state fair received a blue ribbon, it was quickly followed by becoming an entrée.

Knowledge isn’t wisdom and wisdom isn’t knowledge, but there is some sort of association. Maybe learning things that are more down to earth helps to eventually develop wisdom.

If that’s so, today’s kids haven’t scratched yet.