Are children valued because they're scarce?

Or are they scarce because they're valued?

It's a heavy proposition, and it occurred to me as I toured "The Wonder of Learning: The Hundred Languages of Children," at the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas. The exhibit showcases the Reggio Emilia approach to educate toddlers and pre-schoolers, developed in the town of Reggio Emilia after World War II. The exhibit is not easy on the eyes or the brain: it's documentation of a very interesting educational model, the type of knowledge that strains your brain so much you'd think the organ has done 100 sit ups after you're done. Be prepared to spend several hours trying to process all the information out there.

It occurred to me that it had to be in Italy, where declining birth rates mean that the population has virtually stopped growing, where the population is aging, where many women are refusing the role of mommy, that this method was developed.

Children, at least in Reggio Emilia, are deeply valued and cared for. There's no other explanation for this method: the children are allowed to lead, to explore, with the adults following. They're not shushed, they're not yelled at (at least for what I can see). They're loved, and cherished and treasured. They're encouraged to use all their senses when learning: how do you draw the sound of your shoes? What's the lifespan of a shadow? The word poetry comes to mind over and over again. Art is an essential part of their learning.

So I asked a Reggio Emilia practitioner: do you think the method developed in Italy because the number of children's declining and therefore they're more valued?

And she responded: no, all the way around -- people value children so much they're not having as many. They know children are a huge responsibility, and they take the responsibility seriously.

Honestly, I would not want to find out what it would be like to have the population decimated in order to begin caring for our children. They're already here -- thousands of them in Monterey County -- and they need, they deserve to be cared for. Nurtured. Embraced. Celebrated. Loved.

So go out and exercise your brain. I strongly recommend visiting the exhibit (warning: it's very wordy). For teacher's it's a must. For parents and those who care about young children, essential.