Red and Rover by Brian Basset for April 20, 2011

Or anyplace where kids don’t have a loving fur family to love and grow up with…

Does “not heard” and “kids” actually go together?

In the real world, no. In the perfect world, a kid like Calvin would have his mouth clamped shut.

Wish upon a star Red…you’ll get to Disneyland!

This is probably the first one that I don’t entirely agree with. While kids should be listened to and be able to talk, sometimes they need to learn respect and how to not interrupt. There are also other times, such as in a nice restaurant or in a classroom, that they need to be seen and not heard. Too many kids are self-centered and disrespectful these days. I’m sorry if that makes you unhappy, Red, but that’s the cost of being civilized.

I agree 100%, lightenup.

So do I, Grog.

Maybe lightenup needs to lighten up, just because there are places you should be seen but not heard, does not make those places the happiest place on earth. I really can’t see that there is anything to not agree with.

The phrase goes back to the 19th century when intellectual conversation was a major adult activity of the educated classes. It advocated children being permitted to sit in on the discussion in hopes they could learn from the adults, but not interrupt because they did not have to maturity to contribute to the discussion (a supposition not totally supported by fact - especially if restricted to questions).

I can remember hearing those a generation or two older than I, whose childhood was in the late 19th-early 20th centuries. telling about how rewarding it was to listen to some of the top intellects of the period because they were permitted to be seen (present in the room) but not heard (actually interrupting the discussion). Having a parsonage childhood, we didn’t have the wealth to hold salons, but I did get to attend a few held by more affluent friends.

Kids should be encouraged to join in when they wish to. I’ve had far more enjoyable conversations with some kids that I’ve had with adults.