The Rule of Non-Interference

What2Say2Day? I'm reading Dancing With a Ghost by Rupert Ross. It tells of the differences in ethics between indigenous and western cultures in the Americas and how these differences are often, if not always, misunderstood by the western's legal organizations. So far the most interesting thing I've learned is the idea of non-interference. In indigenous cultures (and my indigenous friends will already know this) one person does not interfere with the decisions of another, no matter what. The belief is that one needs to grow and become the person they are. The adults and elders in that person's community (in other words, their friends and families) are expected to model the correct behavior of how to contribute to that community. It doesn't matter who or what that person is, as long as her/his personal actions do not endanger the community as a whole. What that person ends up becoming in their personal lives holds no bearing whatsoever, as long as they contribute in a positive way to the survival of the community. An example from the book is a story of an indigenous man who visited the dentist on a regular basis. When the dentist mentioned that he's never seen the man's 10 year old son and asked the man to bring him in for a visit the man simply said, "I'll ask him if he wants to." To us, westerners, this seems like the parent hasn't a care about his son's well being. Nothing could be further from the truth in the indigenous culture. This man was showing ultimate respect for his son by allowing him to make his own decisions. Of course, along with making your own decisions comes living with the natural consequences. It is my opinion (just an opinion) that this may be what is missing from today's western cultures. We don't allow our young people to live through natural consequences. As adults we make many, if not all, decisions for our children. We choose their school, sports, extra curricular activities, how they spend every living minute of each day; we even try to choose their friends.  All of this makes for a society where non-decision making is a norm. Along with that norm is the knowledge that we don't have to worry about making the wrong decision, if we make a decision, because nothing bad will happen anyway. As educators (and teachers, I am one of you, please take this constructively) we give our children chance after chance after chance to do their homework or finish their projects without outright failing them. Non-interference does not equal no punishment. Our children need to be able to make their own decisions and understand their will be consequences, and rewards, to the decisions they make. And, more importantly, we, as the adults, need to start modeling what a world like that looks like. Be the example to our children and youth and they will become exemplary additions to a successful community.