Did you ever hear of "Primacy"? It is not new, but many of us have not realized how significant the concept of "Primacy" is. I am not an expert on the subject, but I know enough to show you how significant it is and why you need to be aware of it, so here goes.
I remember from early war movies that they used to say that the win will go to, "...the firstest with the mostest...". We all feel that his is true and it is most of the time, but how does it apply to primacy? Primacy means "first". Look at it this example. I have a strange way of tying my shoes and I have show several young kids my method and to this day they still tie their shoes as I do. When some one tried to show them a new way, most stayed with the old way. Have you seen situations like this? I know that you have.
Now, let's look at schools. This is the "first" time that many kids are exposed to ideas and like the shoe thing, this first impression is a very lasting impression. Years ago when our country was more rural, most parents thought that the big city schools were superior to their small country schools and look forward to the day that they could send their kids to the big school. Some even went so far as to send their kids to boarding schools. Well, the time has come when most country schools are gone and most kids go to big city schools, but it has not worked out as the parents thought.
When the kids were in the smaller country schools, there was much more contact between parents, kids and teachers. In the big school situation, the kids have less and less contact with parents and more time with other kids and the teachers. More and more the parents are out of the picture. Remember that parents thought the big schools were better and the big school teachers more qualified, but that was wrong. What parents did was to turn over the minds of their kids to teachers that they did not know and to the influence of kids who they did not know. What the parents did not realize was that they were more qualified to shape the minds of their kids and the strange teachers and strange kids. I am getting to my point.
Based on the concept of primacy, who ever got to the minds of our kids firstist with the mostist were going to have the most lasting influence on their minds. I can tell you that much of the influence of the teachers and class mates was a lot different from what that of their parents had been in the past. The result is a generation of kids who act and think far differently than their parents, but it does not end there.
Because of that first or primacy impression made by the big schools, the parents have a very difficult time over riding that first impression. How many times have you, as a parent, discussed some subject with you child only to have the state that, "this is what the teacher said" and then side with the teacher against you the parent? It happens a lot and it is happening all over. It is the same with the influence of class mates. Once you kids first sees that another kid can do or say something and has that first impression, it is difficult for the parents to every convince their own kid other wise. It is more serious than just, "other kids are doing it".
This process continues into college with the same affect. We know that our colleges are filled with liberal, unionized public employees. I know for a fact that these people think a lot differently than the average parent, yet parents allow these people to have primacy affect on their kids minds.
Another example is religion. Say that you were raised in this or that religion and then later in life reconsidered your faith. Few people ever change religion from that first impression. Some will feel less religious, but few give up their original religion totally. Same with political parties. Most union members are demarcates as are their children. Most recent college graduates are liberals too.
The purpose of this blog is to point out what is happening and why. If, as parents, you expect to change this trend, you have to be "firstest with the mostest" with you children on forming early values and ethics. You also need to counter act the influence that you know that your kids will be subject to in our schools and colleges if it disagrees with you position. Doing nothing and trusting that your kid will be able to figure things out for themselves is being blind to what you are up against. When we shifted from rural to urban, that is when things really started to change.
Consider yourself warned!!!!
PS---How long did it take the government schools to destroy the Native American culture? Just an example of the power of schools when they take over parental responsibility!!
PS---Check out one of early blogs about "Fourtytwo Up". It documents how primacy can affect kids for life. Obama was raised as a Muslim until about age 8. Do you think he ever changed?
