Reflection #5

Angela Gregoire
Reflection # 5

Initiation rites and rites of passage ceremonies have been used in many cultures around the globe to highlight different life transitions. Many tribes in Africa and other parts of the world have structured initiation rites ceremonies beginning from birth to death, but in our society today there are few or no rituals at all. Individuals have serious issues fitting in our communities as they were not prepared in taking rightful places in society and contributing meaningfully and ultimately to function well. I think that rites of passage and initiation rites inculcate values and principles in individuals and assist them to function rationally in their communities. If students are properly trained and disciplined at home, they will behave better at school and therefore, teachers will have fewer problems in managing their classrooms. Some families have some format of initiation ceremonies where their children are taught certain values. Children from these families are more prepared to face the everyday challenges and pose less a threat to the communities in which they live. Children without values, very often fall to alcohol, drugs and crimes .These initiation rites can ease the pressures on social groups like schools and facilitate the flow from one transition to another. Some social problems are dealt with using rituals and individuals learn live comfortably in their own communities. Many of our young people today live in unhealthy communities and are exposed to the ills of society, but they are not equipped to deal with these situations and they were not adequately prepared. Many of these individuals failed to value and appreciate the behavior of the older adults.
As teachers we are constantly instilling values in the students we deal with everyday because we are preparing them to face the world and to take their positions in society. Rites of passage can be seen as a channel to help our youth gain knowledge about their own development and as a bridge to navigate from one transition to the next. These transitions create platforms and build foundations for individuals to grow and develop themselves. The children in our care experience different developmental changes so as teachers we must be prepared to work with them. I believe that rites of passage and initiation rites are important in most cultures because as teachers we function as mentors, guides, counselors, and even parents. Because our schools are becoming more diverse and most parents are employed many students are exiting their transition alone, therefore teachers must provide guidance and support to those needing it. I think that students with no formal or informal transition are quick to adopt their own and very often those that are adopted are not helpful. I am certain that rites of passage can assist greatly in guiding students to deal with a complex world. Modernization and technology have influenced the ways individuals are socialized and are undermining the roots of our cultural heritage. Some stages of the initiation period are painful, but some of life’s important lessons are learnt in the process. I think that initiation rites and rites of passage prepare an individual to cope with life’s long and tedious journey. Rites of passage and initiation rites can be seen as critical elements that can help build and strengthen an individual to face challenges boldly and transform the ways he sees the world. Individuals’ position in society changes as they progress from infant to adulthood, therefore the culture should provide avenues to ease these transitions and celebrate the changes. Many persons are made what they are through ceremonies so these rites are beneficial in resolvingsome of the world’s problems.