The ideal adult

Francoise Herrmann (fherrmann who-is-at igc.apc.org)
Fri, 17 Oct 1997 10:02:49 -0700 (PDT)

Hi Peter, I don't have any reference to suggest regarding the
ideal adult except for perhaps a case study by Spindler and
Spindler about Roger Harker which covers a situation that is less
than ideal. Thinking back to the ZPD discussion, I realized that
in wanting to factor in the people, I was no doubt stepping back
to the character of interactions. But, I cannot factor it out
either. Sorry, (and somehow I sense that you you may agree), but
what happens when the one-caring does not like the cared-for, is a
racist, has pre-conceived ideas, does not see the cared-for as an
equal, thinks negatively about the cared-for as a group type
(e.g.; I work with adolescent girls, but to tell you the truth, I
hate them) etc... I know it sounds dreadful, but what of reality?
To me these are huge spurious variables... Vygotsky and his school
no doubt have already changed the world, but what of Rumanian
special children hospitals, prior to intervention, for example.
And on a tiny scale, closer to home, what of people who don't like
it when others slurp their coffee or soup?

Francoise Francoise Herrmann fherrmann who-is-at igc.apc.org
http://www.wenet.net/`herrmann