Human Development In The Village Watchman

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“The Village Watchman,” I began thinking about Piagets’ developmental theory and how it could be applied to Alan and his niece Terry. In the reading Piaget states human 's cognitive adaptation can move at different paces, because all humans develop differently from one another. Alan has an intellectual disability due to complications during birth. This makes Alan move through the stages of development at a much slower pace. Alan’s niece Terry is the one telling the story she is reflecting on how she remembered Alan in a very descriptive colorful way. The characters interactions and experiences with the world may differ from one another, but much of the teaching in the story is done by Alan even though he is at a different stage …show more content…

In the beginning of the short story we learn Alan’s parents didn’t find out about his intellectual disability until he was 16 months old. It is assume the doctor wasn’t able to diagnose Alan for over a year, because he still went through the Sensorimotor Stage, just at a little slower pace than other children. In the sensorimotor stage children learn object permanence and the use of their 5 senses. From the way Terry describes him it is known that he is slower, he is passed the first stage of development. This puts Alan into the Pre- Operational stage. In the Pre-Operational stage it is known that children are very egocentric meaning everything is their way. When they talk, they only describe what they know, because they fail to understand other minds. Alan does just that throughout the story. For example Terry stated, “He was unpredictable. He created his own rules and they changed from moment to moment. Alan was twelve years old, hyperactive, mischievous, easily frustrated, and unable to learn in traditional ways.” (The Village Watchman, Pg. 29.) As students and educators …show more content…

Terry mostly tells the story of her uncle through her experiences and interactions with him. The way Terry learned from him was not in an educational way, but a way that made her have a different outlook on life. Alan in his younger years was pretty boisterous and outspoken. Terry learned what not to do in some situations like how to act in public, because she knew better than to act how Alan did. Terry learned that being different was ok from Alan. She stated, “In a culture where we were taught socially to be seen not heard, Alan was our mirror.” From this she learned that it is ok to be different, but it might not be ok in the public’s eye. She also learned to live life fully. Alan didn’t know any better about his living and couldn’t realize that it was not so great. This is because he had friends and played games and always was over excited about everything from the way Terry him. Although she thought Alans’ living situation was bad she came to realize that everyone can adapt to a situation that they are in. Terry also learned to make connections through her uncle. Throughout the story she connects the

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