Independence vs. Interdependence...or Something In Between

Brittany F. wrote our first entry for chapter 2. Here she is
as a very happy baby being held by her sister. She credits
her sister with motivating her toward more independence as
she grew older.

The noun independence comes to mind when taking a look at the ideologies on which the United States was founded. People from around the world came to inhabit our great nation in pursuit of the “American Dream”—a nation founded on democracy and freedom.  This ideology of independence has been carried down from generation to generation, and is still evident today in the 21^st century citizen.

            This heavy push toward an independent mindset has left our country lacking in a particular area: interdependence. The ability to rely on one another has taken the back seat in America’s core values. Gordon mentions that interdependence is essential in facilitating empathy. Yet, how are we able to implement the act of empathy when we are lacking in interdependence? I find myself guilty of placing a high value on independence. As a result, becoming empathetic towards others was a process; a process that did not take place until I was in my twenties.

            As an infant, independence was fostered in my home. Expectations of drinking out of my bottle with no assistance and sitting up on my own were tasks my parents expected me to excel in. As I got older, I was encouraged to dress myself, to make my own lunches, and to make my own choices—pertaining to sports and future plans. On several occasions, I witnessed children being taunted and bullied. Unfortunately, I was only a bystander and never intervened. The “roots of empathy” had yet to be planted within me. I believe I am not alone with my experiences with independence. If this is true, many adults may have a difficult time—like me—promoting empathy because it is a brand new concept. That is not to say that there is anything wrong with independence. Rather, what would our society look like if it began to balance the ideology of independence with interdependence? My hope is that there would be a decrease in the acts of bullying, suicide, school drop outs, and the like.

            With the aspiration of becoming a future educator, my goal is to create a balance of independence and interdependence. Independence in the classroom will be promoted by children developing a sense of self. This sense of self will allow the children to identify the feelings they are experiencing. In turn, to encourage interdependence in my classroom, I believe it is essential to build an environment based on trust. One way of creating such an environment is by letting down your guard as an educator or mentor. With this trust established, children will feel confident and secure in expressing their own feelings. By identifying their feelings and expressing them, children will then be able to better understand the act of empathy—walking in someone else’s shoes. The goal of my classroom will be to validate children’s feelings, promote problem-solving with peers, and ultimately create productive citizens for the future. We must learn from our past and move forward as a nation. We cannot expect our future leaders to show empathy and compassion for others, if these life skills are not fostered in their younger years. Therefore, we must give children the opportunity to develop empathy; so that they may be contributing adults in the future.