ABC: Minor Changes, Majore Differences

While thinking of an example for the assignment, my mind jumped around from several different subjects, mostly involving the alphabet. This seems like a logical choice as the alphabet and its importance in our culture, especially after reading these articles, is very clear. Language is the foundation of humanity, and learning to communicate can have profound effects on our lives and our history. Merely changing how one is taught can influence the world view of the learner in subtle ways.

For example, when i was still learning to read and right, my teachers would associate letters of the alphabet with inanimate objects and places. A was for apple, C was for car, Z for zoo, K for kickball, etc, etc. Because A was the first letter i ever learned and it was represented by a particular object (apples), the fruit in question became in my mind linked to academia in general. This seems to be a common connection, as whenever i remember the decorations in elementary school, the apple was heavily present in association with learning, appearing next to books and diplomas, and the old tradition of giving an apple to ones teacher.

But lets pretend that i was raised in a different climate, such as one where religion was more prevalent and influential in the culture. A Christian school would most likely use different associations with each letter in order to teach. Therefore A would be for Abraham, B for bible, C for Christ, etc. By doing so, children who learned through this method would have the religious beliefs ingrained into their psyche, reinforcing their belief in their faith. But lets take this a bit further. If it was still a religious area, but a more strict, fire and brimstone wrath of god kind of community, the alphabetic teaching methods would adapt to comply with this variation of the belief. A would change from Abraham to Abomination, B from bible to blasphemy, H would be hell, D damnation, and so on. This reflects the difference in the culture's religion while simultaneously teaching children a harsher view of god and their faith.

Ways of teaching the alphabet could also instill a sense of economic class differences. In situations such as medieval times, a peasant's method of teaching would involve associations with plants, animals, and agricultural tools, while a Noble's alphabet would consist of political and etiquette terms. Both of these methods create a separation between classes, creating large social-economic gaps which could then fuel resentment or entitlement towards the opposite class. This could lead to conflict between the two, eventually paving the way for oppression and rebellions that eventually leave large impacts in history.

There are hundreds of other situations and variations as to how something as seemingly simple as learning the alphabet can affect people and events, but the point is clear. Children grow up and change the world. They rely upon what they were taught and whatever they learned at an early age makes a big difference in how they view the world, be it politically, religiously, or socially.