| "I remember one morning
when I discovered a cocoon in the bark of a tree, just as the
butterfly was making a hole in its case and preparing to come
out. I waited a while, but it was too long appearing and
I was impatient. I bent over it and breathed on it to
warm it. I warmed it as quickly as I could and the
miracle began to happen before my eyes, faster than
life. The case opened, the butterfly started slowly
crawling out and I shall never forget my horror when I saw how
its wings were folded back and crumpled: the wretched
butterfly tried with its whole trembling body to unfold
them. Bending over it, I tried to help it with my
breath. In vain. It needed to be hatched out
patiently and the unfolding of the wings should be a gradual
process in the sun. Now it was too late. My breath
had forced the butterfly to appear all crumpled, before its
time. It struggled desperately and, a few seconds later,
died in the palm of my hand. That little body is, I do
believe, the greatest weight I have on my conscience.
For I realize today that it is a mortal sin to violate the
great laws of nature. We should not be impatient, but we
should confidently obey the eternal rhythm."
Zorba the Greek
(Kazantzakis, 1952, p. 21).
This quote illustrates the potential danger of
interfering with natural development and why, as early
childhood educators, we believe that preschool programs should
recognize each child's individuality and right to develop into
his or her own person, at his or her own speed. |
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