Hidden Lessons, David Suzuki - Learning beyond the unintentional messages

Extract

[...] According to “Hidden Lessons” by David Suzuki, parental involvement has led to the ignorance toward the environment. However, ignorance is from the lack of knowledge. If parental involvement is reduced, there is only more ignorance. In addition to the flaws in his arguments, the methods of development do not assist in proving his thesis. Despite the importance of environmental protection, Suzuki undermines the essay due to the faulty conclusions from the anecdotes; the stereotypical representations from the illustrations; and the incomplete explanation for the causation of environmental isolation. [...]

[...] As children develop, they will form their own attitudes toward nature. Nevertheless, the care for the environment does not translate to actions. Until people realize the significance of their actions, they will not dedicate themselves toward the cause. Once thought becomes actions, the influence of the “hidden lessons” can be suppressed (129). Although Suzuki reminds society to place emphasis on the environment, his illustrations diminishes his arguments by omitting the fact that environmentalists can unconsciously violate their own values. Moreover, Suzuki criticizes the errors of parental involvement without providing any guidance for parents nor children. [...]

[...] Therefore, by discouraging parental involvement, Suzuki is depriving the child of guidance. Likewise, the independence of learning does not ensure natural interest in other life forms” (128). In fact, the disconnection from nature can originate from solely personal interactions. Through parental involvement and education, children can internalize the fact that humans are only a part of the environment. Afterwards, they can learn the importance of their roles in preserving the environment. While some children can learn this independently, the possibility of deviance can exists. [...]

[...] While not every environmentalist appreciates insects, their care for the environment is a common goal. Effectively, Suzuki fails to convey his points because the essay neglects the influence of society and the human capacity for change when analyzing the anecdotes. Furthermore, the concern for the environment is growing more prominent. This is due to the consciousness of society. However, people are not born with the knowledge of their influence on their environment. The trend of using insecticide is based on the choices that individuals have made. [...]