[omeid2]

I am always fascinated by this degree of assurance and absolute lack of scepticism.

In what way, do you think, a show can have no room for critical viewing? Does being related to "reading or books" sufficient for such unquestionable and noncritical acceptance? Or was something else about it that makes it so cocksure good?

[gonzobonzo]

Watching Mr. Rogers as an adult, I was surprised by how opinionated the show could be. There was an episode where one of the puppets was trying to teach a child puppet to read before they entered school, and it was presented as a extremely harsh and mean way to treat a child. A human actor comes in and starts scolding the puppet that it's not necessary to teach the kids to read before school and that she needs to stop. Later, Mr. Rogers talks with an actual kindergarten teacher, and they discuss how it's completely unnecessary to teach kids to read before they enter kindergarten.

It felt like it was indoctrinating kids into believing that the right way to raise them was the way that Fred Rogers preferred.

There's this strange point of view that once it's decided that something is good and it's being made by good people, it's absurd to look at it critically and anyone who does should be mocked.

[esseph]

Okay, I don't think that was it.

I think the one you are talking about is Episode 1462.

In Episode 1462 Lady Elaine is badgering people for not knowing all their letters and numbers etc before showing up for school.

The point is not about knowing them before you show up, the point is about addressing learning anxiety!

The point of that section is to tell children that if they don't know these things before they first show up at school, that it's not the end of the world!

Different kids are going to come from different backgrounds, this segment addresses that so when kids show up to school and don't know these things, that they don't feel stressed and upset that other kids may know something they don't. That is something they can turn a kid off from school and wanting to learn forever.

Were in a place where you learned things like that before you ever went to school? If so, that can cause resentment!

[thaumasiotes]

That is a Waldorf perspective, though presumably not exclusive to them. I was sent to a Waldorf kindergarten, and my mother despised it because they repeatedly insulted her for having taught me to read. They felt this was unhealthy.

Independent of Waldorf, kindergarten teachers - like most teachers - don't like it when their students already know the material they're supposed to be teaching.

[esseph]

You're talking about, I believe, Episode 1463 - Mr Rogers goes to school.

I found it in the internet archive here: https://archive.org/details/ipoy143season10

Edit: The correct episode in question is Ep 1462.

[esseph]

> absolute lack of scepticism.

Mostly being around 4-6 years old and generally having trust in the people around you.