In a message dated 12/7/2003 2:49:13 PM Central Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
So many of the women are clueless about breastfeeding and they =
think that thats normal.  Would they embark on any other new project =
with out finding out what it entails ahead of time? Is caring for a =
newborn so simple that there's nothing to learn?  I can always tell when =
the mother I'm working with has educated herself about breastfeeding  =
either through books or prenatal classes.  Its much easier to work out =
the problems with somebody who has some knowledge of how things are =
supposed to work.  Obviously I don't know the details about the mother =
in Nikki Lee's post and what information gathering she did, but does =
anyone agree that some of the responsibility to be informed rests on the =
mother herself ?

I personally believe that until we begin teaching students in elementary and
secondary schools critical thinking skills, we will continue to see women who
have absolutely no clue about parenting, feeding and parenting choices, or who
take the time and energy to research their options. At this time we, in the
US, tend to teach our children (from a very early age) to comply. We recognize
the students who are most compliant, and brand those who question "authority"
as troublemakers. Parents, in general (not all), place the responsibility for
education on the system and use daycare, preschool, and public education as an
opportunity to relieve themselves of responsibility for their children during
most of said children's' waking hours.
Classes and opportunities to question learning theory, common societal
practices, and accepted authority figures as very few and far between, even in post
secondary schools. Many students today do not learn these critical thinking
skills unless/until they decide to study for an advanced college degree. Maybe
this is why we are also seeing what some call the "Dumming Down of America."
Another good reason to advocate for educational programs like the one offered by
the New York State Department of Health.... A Breastfeeding Education
Activity Package for Grades K-12

When we teach our population to accept without question what they are
spoon-fed, (by the educational system, the political system, and the media) how can
we then expect them reach out for alternate choices? Many of them do not even
realize that this is an option.

Laura Wright
Mississippi

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