The lessons learned in kindergarten reappear throughout life [Book Excerpt]

Most of the lessons we need to learn in life were actually taught in kindergarten. It sounds unbelievable—what could such young children possibly learn? In 1988, American pastor Robert Fulghum gave a speech titled 'All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten' at a kindergarten entrance ceremony, which caused a sensation. It was later turned into a book and a stage play. Decades later, at the age of 60, Fulghum revisited his work and added content, still believing that life is about revisiting what we learned in kindergarten, just with more complex expressions and vocabulary. Robert Fulghum, born in 1937, grew up in Texas. He worked as a cowboy, folk singer, and bartender before serving as a pastor for 22 years. He is also a well-known writer and speaker. His representative work, 'All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten,' topped the New York Times bestseller list for 34 consecutive weeks. He excels at digging deep into the philosophy of life, the essence of kindness, and human connection from the trivialities of daily life. CNA has obtained authorization to share part of the content with you. As I write this, I am 65 (as of 2020). Not very old, but I have lived for quite some time. Kindergarten was a long time ago. What do I think now? The kindergarten creed is not childish. It is not simple, but it is fundamental. This article answers the question everyone asks sooner or later—the question that pops into your mind when you stare out the classroom window: 'Why am I here? Why must I go to school?' We go to school to become civilized and to understand the basic operating mechanisms of human society. We are sent away from home early in life into the outside world, which is school. We have no choice. Society deems education vital; we must go to school; it is the law. Once in school, we are taught the basics of maintaining civilization. Teachers explain these truths in language that young children can understand. For example, telling a 6-year-old that 'research shows that human society cannot function if earth's resources are not distributed fairly' is useless. While true, children cannot understand these words. So, schools teach children: there are 20 kids, and we must share 5 balls; similarly, there are 4 easels, 3 sets of blocks, 2 hamsters, and one bathroom. To be fair, we must share. Similarly, a 6-year-old won't understand that 'it is generally observed that violence has a counterproductive effect on positive interactions between individuals and society.' This is true, but children understand better that the rules of the outside world and the school are the same: don't hit people, or something bad will happen. Children must understand that this rule is related to the previous one: if you hit people, others won't share or play games with you fairly. It is not easy to explain the costs and consequences of environmental pollution and destruction to a 6-year-old. But we are still paying a heavy price because adults did not listen to the teachings of kindergarten: clean up your own mess, put things back where they belong, and don't take what isn't yours. 'The perception of disease defines the history of a society far more than the formulation of philosophical and political theories.' True. Basic hygiene. Keeping hands and hearts clean is important. But for children, teaching them to use the toilet, flush, and wash their hands is enough. By extension, from the first day, school uses language children can understand to teach us the principles that everyone cherishes and that lay the foundation for community and culture. Although teachers might call these initial teachings 'simple rules,' they are actually the essence of principles refined through countless blood and tears in human society. After learning these, you will soon realize: we are in an experimental class—asked to try and practice these principles every day. Knowledge only has meaning after it is put into action; humans have discovered through painful experience that it is not just our thoughts that shape us, but our actions. This applies to adults and children—to classrooms and countries. Sometimes I am amazed: we didn't really understand what we were taught in kindergarten. During my years as a parish pastor, people would come to me and say, 'I just saw the doctor, and he said I don't have much time left.' I was always surprised. I wanted to shout: 'What? You didn't know? You're this old and you still have to pay a doctor to tell you this? Where were you the week they gave out little cups and cotton, water, and seeds to the kids in kindergarten? Life unfolds just like that—remember? Plants grow, take root, a miracle, and then a few days later, the plant dies. Dead. Life is short. Were you asleep that week? Or on sick leave, or what?' I never said these words, but I thought them. And it is true. The purpose of planting things is to hope that we understand the whole picture from the beginning—life and death, life and death, are one thing, a short thing. Don't forget. There is another thing not everyone realizes immediately: it is almost impossible to spend life alone. We need to find support groups—family, friends, companions, therapy groups, teams, churches, etc. The kindergarten warning applies for a lifetime: 'When you go out, hold hands and walk together.' The outside world is dangerous and lonely; everyone needs companions, always needing some gathering. The lessons we learned in kindergarten will reappear throughout life. Of course, they will appear more complex, using harder vocabulary, in various speeches, encyclopedias, the Bible, company regulations, courts, sermons, and manuals. Life will constantly test us to see if we understand and practice what we learned in our first year of school. In a long life, we will constantly struggle with issues of right and wrong, good and evil, truth and lies. We will return again and again to the original place: in that classroom, where we were young, and the teacher placed all the basic concepts of being human into our hands. Of course, kindergarten didn't teach us everything we should know, of course not. But if you didn't learn these basic truths at the beginning, you and society will pay a heavy price. If you did learn and practice them, you have laid a long-term foundation for every lesson in your future life. That's it. The kindergarten creed has expanded, but the spirit remains the same. This is what I deeply believe, understand, and trust at 65. (Excerpt provided by Wisdom Press; Editor: Lin Xiangyun)