Nature or Nurture?
...usseau to demonstrate both sides of the debate. The article explores stories of feral children which makes it difficult not to support the nurture assumption. One of the stories is about two girls who were raised by a she-wolf in the 1920's. Reverend J.A.L. Singh saw and “captured” the two girls who were approximately eight years and one and a half years old. The Reverend described the girls as “wolfish” in their appearance and behavior. The story describes how the two girls behaved; eating raw meat and staying up all night howling. Once they were subject to human beings, they became ill and died. What this story does, is confirm the role of nurturing and educating. The author describes how humans enter the world poorly equipped and must be “taught” things outside of natural bodily functions such as breathing. A child must learn to walk, talk, swim, have manners, etc.. which are all factors in developing and leading a normal adult life. The author discusses the importance of parents as educators and uses the metaphor a child reaches adulthood just as a traveler reaches his destination. If the traveler receives the wrong directions, he either will not reach his destination, or it will take longer to get there. Just as a chil...