Stupid Girl, They Have the Same Amount
My high school psychology book featured a series of photos in which a three- or four-year-old girl attempts to determine which glass of water has more water in it.
The first photo shows two glasses of water - the glasses are the same size and shape, and the water levels are even. She determines that they have the same amount of water. In the first photo, she is correct.
The second photo shows the girl watching one glass's water getting poured into a tall, thin glass.
The third photo shows the girl pointing at this taller, thinner glass because it's got more water in it. She's wrong.
I don't remember what these photographs were teaching us. Children are retarded?
What I do remember is the little girl's face.
I saw that little girl, now an adult, on the subway this morning. You're probably asking yourself how I know, and I have no rational explanation.
But I haven't thought of those photos in years. And I'm convinced that this 25-year-old -or-so woman was that retarded child.
My high school psychology teacher, by the way, eventually got canned for banging his students.
He did not bang me.
Labels: commute
posted by Dan G @ 8:28 PM
4 Comments
4 Comments:
They were referring to child development and perception. Until a certain age children aren't able to tell that there is the same amount of water despite the shape of the container.
DUDE, DUDE, DUDE! Which teacher was that?!
(What was up with our teachers, anyway? Didn' the teacher from Singers got busted for porn on his school computer?)
This is a sign of crossing over from the "Preoperational" stage to the "Concrete Operational". Specifically, it's the transition from "Centration" to "Decentering". All this is according to Piaget.
I knew those Ed Psych classes would come in handy someday. Still waiting.
Whatever. I still think she was retarded.
Post a Comment
<< Home