The Spectator's view: Let’s give our kids wings to fly

Ziauddin Yousafzai — the father of education rights activist Malala Yousafzai — recently spoke to kids at Hamilton's Ray Lewis elementary school. He inspired the students with his message about the importance of education. But he has an equally profound message for us all — respect for the power and purity of children.

"We can learn a lot from children," he said. "You see, children are innocent … free of jealousies and negative competitions. As adults, we have tribal feuds and wars. And when people say something is childish, really, it's adultish."

His daughter had the courage to stand up to the Taliban because he "did not clip (her) wings." "I encouraged her to fly." Malala is incredibly special — few 15-year-olds would be willing to sacrifice their lives to attend school. But consider the bravery of her father, who let her take a stand despite being "just" a kid.

How often are kids held back or negatively influenced by adults with their own fears or preconceptions about the way the world should be, about what is right and what is wrong? How often do adults limit their expectations of kids and, in the process, quash their dreams? What more could our children accomplish if we gave them the wings to fly? That is a message worth considering.

Cheryl Stepan