As Soon as You're Born They Make You Feel Small: Self-Determination Youth Liberation Program

As Soon as You're Born They Make You Feel Small: Self-Determination Youth Liberation Program

by Wendy Ayotte Editor

There’s a common belief that kids are tiny devils that need to be controlled. But children are hardly running wild. Indeed, leave a child alone for two hours and watch them develop a new interest. Instead of waiting for adulthood to become responsible, they would rather do it now—if we gave them that agency. For most children they’d rather participate in their community, make decisions to affect their own life, foster respect for others’ decisions, and find worth in their own life instead of having their value be determined for them. Children are coerced and forced to submit to others’ rules "for their own good" and told that they’ll understand when they’re older. As much a reminder of the power of kids as a critique of modern schooling and parenting, this classic youth liberation text originally published in 1986 and updated in 1999, is finally refreshed for the modern era.

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Comments & Reviews

4/23/2012

This zine gives you a lot to think about. Anyone will enjoy this one.

5/4/2006

Thanks everso for restocking, this has pointed out a few things I didn't know before and further resolved my commitment to the anti ageism movement. What a horribly clunky phrase that was. The copy I've got's been photocopied a few too many times to be clear in places, the back page is very nearly unreadable, but the content's priceless. I reccomend this zine here to anyone looking for a cause to champion or anyone in need of a couple more arguments against age discrimination against the young.

11/22/2005

I'd really like to look through a copy of this, if anyone's got one that they don't much want anymore and is willing to send it to Tasmania I'd be very happy to trade. I've not got many zines yet but I can sew and make a couple of sorts of circus equipment.Willing to pay postage, too. Ta muchly if you help.

12/29/2004

Really interesting; a good read