trc@houti.UUCP (07/14/83)
Perhaps it is best to divide the general idea of "teaching" into teaching - informing a child of provable facts indoctrination - informing a child of unprovable facts that the parent believes in, and thinks the child should too. brainwashing - manipulating one's children's emotions/mind with methods not directly related to the ideas that are being put across, in such a way that the child is likely to accept the ideas without question. EG frightening the child with scare stories of what will happen if they dont accept the ideas, or using punishment/reward to get the child to accept the ideas, (beyond unconscious use of the child's desire for parental approval, which is probably used by any one that indoctrinates their child). This makes the distinction between those that merely encourage their children to accept certain ideas, and those that try to trick or coerce the acceptance. Tom Craver houti!trc