Reflection Paper 5

Initiation rites and the rites of passage have to do with teaching and learning because they are both comparatively similar. Initiation rites and the rites of passage are what young children have to go through in order to become adults. As they go through the trials they have a learning experience that they will take with them throughout their lives. It is something that is mandatory that they do to take the next step in life; if not then they would be looked down upon by the entire village. Teaching and learning are basically the same initiative. In order to succeed in life you have to have an education in which the teacher provides. Teachers guide their students down the road of life to help them become outstanding adults. With initiation rites and the rites of passage the adults and parents of the child help to guide them in what is needed from them in order to pass their initiation. Teachers do the exact same thing; they give their guidance to their students and give them knowledge of what is to come and what is expected of them in the adult world. There are always challenges and difficulties ahead in life that has to be overcome. Initiation rites and the rites of passage are faster ways into adulthood but are still built on the same idea of teaching and learning. There are the ones who guide the children and the children are the ones who take in the knowledge of their elders. Through every experience the child takes knowledge away from that situation whether it is survival skills or life’s knowledge, it is the same idea. Initiation rites and the rites of passage are the early forms of teaching and learning, there wasn’t always a school to learn in so parents became the teachers of their children. They showed them what was right and what was wrong and how to survive. Parents still do that but now they have extra help and guidance from teachers who are able to help them in areas parents might not be able to. Both help to shape children into strong, mentally and physically, well rounded adults. Teaching and learning is the current initiation rites and rites of passage, graduating is the last step in becoming an adult just like passing the initiation is the last step in becoming an adult.