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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 1, No. 19 September 6, 1938

Prototypes

Prototypes.

Young children hold their prejudices with an almost fanatical fierceness. Even more than do adults.

Here are one or two typical extracts from an inquiry into the social attitudes of young children, carried out in a Wellington school:—
  • Jack—Age 6 years 1 month:
    • (when asked if he knew who Germans were): "Yes. They wear stupid old rags and hunt for crumbs."
  • Jack—Age 6 years 3 months:
    • (when asked if he had heard of Jews said) : "Some Jews roll and some kill and shoot people."
  • Victor—Age 7:
    • (when asked what would happen if someone pulled down the flag, said) "He'd get killed by the police."

Multiply these Instances till you wear out the adding machine. Consider their ramifications. The impact or home, school, Sunday school, newspapers, talking, street hoardings, books, movies. Week in: week out. All leaving their mark—often their scar.

Multiply it to the nth power. Then you have some idea of how manifold and incisive the process is.

Thus we grow up. Thus we are conditioned.