13 MAY 2013 by ideonexus
Esther Dyson Forged Her Own Path
Thank you for your compliment to Esther and to her parents. We do not claim credit for her achievements. She was lucky to be the oldest of six, so we had little time for her and gave her little of our attention. She befitted from our benign neglect. She learned from a young age to choose her own path through life. She chose for her motto: "Always make new mistakes." I believe that is the key to her happy and productive life.
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In response to my question: "You're daughter Esther is one of the most incredibly inspiring women role models alive today. Do you have any parenting advice for those of out here with kids of our own who would like them to become similarly active, positive, and brilliant adults?"
18 MAY 2011 by ideonexus
How Teenagers Lose Interest in Science
Every now and then, I'm lucky enough to teach a kindergarten
or first-grade class. Many of these children are natural-born
scientists - although heavy on the wonder side and light on
scepticism. They're curious, intellectually vigorous. Provocative
and insightful questions bubble out of them. They exhibit enormous
enthusiasm. I'm asked follow-up questions. They've never
heard of the notion of a 'dumb question'.
But when I talk to high school seniors, I find something
different. They memorize...Young children have an interest in science, but it is driven out of them by the time they enter high school.
23 JAN 2011 by ideonexus
Memes and Genes in Conflict in Modern Child-Rearing
Let us suppose that women who have many chidren are far too busy to have much social life, and spend most of their time with their partners and family. The few other people they do see are likely to be other mothers with young children who already share at least some of their child-rearing memes. The more children they have the mor eyears they will spend this way. They will, therefore, have little time for spreading their own memes, including the ones concerned with family values and the ple...
2 Women who have lots of children have less memetic influence, while women who are career-oriented have more memetic influence, but less genetic.
