Remember the fairy tale of Malin Kundang? He was a poor boy from Sumatra (Indonesia), who sought his fortune on the seacoast. For years he was exploring the various islands to pursue a dream. He fared better. After became the rich man and married a beautiful girl, he sailed home with beautiful and luxurious ship. Arriving in the village, was where he got the life test. An old woman dressed in rags came to pick him. Immediately, the old woman rushed to hug him and confessed that she was his mother.
When his wife asked whether the older woman was his mother, Malin Kundang, in shame, didn't admit it. The mother, who had long waited for and longed for him, in sorrow and disappointment then prayed, "If it is true he is my son, I hope he becomes a stone." So, Malin Kundang turned into a stone.
In the past, such tales were circulating as informal education to maintain the behavior and maintain the character. For example, there was also a tale about brothers who have ignored the advice of their parents. Because the upset, both of their parents decided to turn into birds and flew away from them. In their cries, the children heard the birds singing were singing as if saying, "That's what you get if you ignore your parents advice."
From ancient times there is always a fairy-tale or phrases or expressions full of wisdom messages. Among the Muslims, in the Middle East, there's the mystical and philosophical movement of Sufis in the 11th -12 th century. According to its history (Religions of the World, 1971), because the Sufi way of life tends to renounce the world to dedicate themselves in devotion to God alone, they are regarded as saints by the multitude of Muslims. The interesting thing is, the fairy tales and wise phrases that had been disseminated by them, much quoted by the world literature. There are a lot of their works are useful for informal education in order to build the society's character.
There was a Sufi named Attar who lived in Nishapar, Persia (Iran) in the 12th century. His works were considered important, because by his community, it was considered to be helpful and maintain a network of social and ethical values of Islam.
There was another writer named Saadi Persian from Shiraz (13th century). His classic works collected in The Orchard (Bostan) and The Rose Garden (Gulistan) were very famous and widely translated into many languages. He perpetuated the Sufism in Persian literature. Some of his quotes are, "A jewel that fell into the mud did not diminish its value." ; "No one is throwing a barren tree that does not bear fruit." ; "When we see the beggars do not eat, the food seems to make a sick and toxic." ; "The wealth of the sea is not unexpected, but if you want to survive, stay on the beach." ; "The Arabian horse ran fast. The camel moved slowly, but the camel walk day and night."
In ancient times, people everywhere seemed like fairy tales and phrases that contained the profound positive message. This is a kind of informal education without sounding to impose, but effective way to keep maintaining the values of life are respected by and within the community.
Lately, fairy tales or the bedtime of wise phrases are rarely heard. Children usually get other types of practical entertainment that don't bother their parents, such as a spectacle of violence through the electronic tools. Along with that, the temptations of worldliness more intense, the competition increasingly fierce. We witnessed the violation manners everywhere, in various forms and ways. It's not only sneak in family life, but also in the society, state, political and religious life.
If in the old days we often heard the expressions of rebellious child, so now it seems we more often see the children who suffer because of neglect by their parents. Thousands of street children scattered in various parts of the world. Certainly too cliche if we talk about poverty and unemployment as the reason. What will happen is, the growth of child life will be disrupted due to trauma in childhood. Even it's possible the uncomfortable experience will be the uncertainty revenge in adulthood.
Running the informal education through the parental advice, stories, and phrases wisely can help build the character, considering its implementation can begin from an early age and continue until the adulthood. This education can be strengthened through non-formal education institutions or political associations, religious, sports or other organizations, as well as by formal education in schools that its curriculum can be adjusted to the needs of nation. As Saadi said, "If we take the straight road, it is impossible to get lost."
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(CZ/LA-St/0525)
Lakshmi Lavanya, Almira Izzati, Jan Pepijn Servaas and 3 others like this.
Fairuz Azalia : An interesting review, C. I agree with your idea. Fairy tales are useful for children, other than useful for sharpening their intellect and imagination, we can also instill the values and ethics, and motivate their reading interests.
Pranay Suresh : Fairuz, I think everything has its positive and negative sides. Things we need to look at is, it turns out the tales of children sometimes are dangerous. In a discussion between me and my two sisters, the fairy tale that is told to children will indirectly affect the patterns of their thought and behavior. So, don't be surprised if the bad behavior of children and adolescents come from fairy tales.
Jan Pepijn Servaas : Try to ask the younger siblings, or children about the story that they know. How the story of Alexander the Great, Haman, Harut, Nimrod, Queen of Sheba, Asiyah, Zulaikha or 25 prophets?
Almira Izzati : @ Pranay Suresh, why can it be dangerous?
Pranay Suresh : Almira Izzati, Let us examine the story closely. Sleeping Beauty (Grimm Brothers) its brief, the Princess fell asleep because the needle pricked her finger. The curse was missing after a prince kissed her. Imagine it, a young man kissed a young woman (at the time told that the Princess's age was 15 years old) who was sleeping. So, don't be surprised if many teenagers now are kissing before marriage. Or even more than kissing....?
..... Cisca Zarmansyah : Kashmir, did you know when I was at the age of 16 years, ... since the first time he kissed me, I was still sleeping until now!
Almira Izzati : Pranay, she was the Cinderella who liked party since she was 17 years old .....
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