Are Children Born Good or Evil,

Christina M. Epps

Dr. Curtis Kidd

Humanities 112

2 February 2013

Are Children Born Good or Evil?

Are children really born good or evil? It is in my opinion that no child is born either way. People are born with a clean slate, but it is after their birth that they begin to even learn what is good and bad. Good and evil are things that are taught to babies as they grow into adults. I don't believe any child knows exactly what it is they are doing until their parents use those infamous words, "Good job!" or "That's not nice." It is the parents of child who are molding them from the beginning of their lives. If a parent does not inform a child that they are doing things that are evil or mean then the child will continue the behavior.

It could be asked, "What makes you think children are born neither way?" I believe what I believe based upon personal experience. I have a five year old son, Tahjai. When Tahjai was born, I thought he was the sweetest thing I had ever seen. He was playful; he only cried when he was hungry, sleepy, or wet. I watched him grow, and I watched myself grow with him. Little by little I could see how he was exploring and wanting to try new things. Even the words I used with him changed. "Good job." "You can do it." "Awe...that's so sweet." were phrases that I said in the beginning, but as he grew the phrases changed to, "Stop." "Don't do that." "That's not nice." Children do not know what they are doing until it is explained to them. I do not believe children are merely because their actions are not nice. I believe all children should be given an opportunity to have what is good and bad described to them prior to labeling them as either one or the other.

Another example I can provide is that from other children in my family. I have three nephews and two nieces. One of my nephews is always being called, "the bad child." However, he has two sibling that are 7 and 6 years older than him and a younger brother one year younger. Being...