On 3/28/2010 8:14 PM, orpheus99 wrote:
> clouddreamer wrote:
>> Alan Curry wrote:
>
>>
>>> Favorite part: the argument about utensils.
>>> "You want to give knives to 5-year-olds?" *boggle*
>>> "Why wouldn't you give knives to 5-year-olds?" *equally boggled*
>>
>> The latter boggles my mind too.
>
> There are quite a few cultures in our world where small children (yes,
> including 5-year-olds) help with the kitchen prep work by cutting up the
> vegetables. When taught properly it isn't a problem. They somehow manage
> to retain all their fingers. As an American I was surprised when I first
> saw it, and my initial reaction was to take away the knives to protect
> them. Then I noticed that they handled these tools more safely than most
> adults...
>


Yeah. Exactly. Seems to be part and parcel of the culture of cuddling
that has arisen of late.

I think part of it has to do with the school trying to avoid a lawsuit
if a kid cuts himself or stabs a friend with a fork.

Which in itself says the kids need to be taught more than just how to
handle a fork and knife.

:\