Is boredom a thing of the past, like black-and-white television? And, if so, is that a good thing? Julie Robinson, a former teacher who now represents the Independent Association of Prep Schools, thinks that boredom is regarded as an enemy of today's children, and they are losing the ability to become thoughtful and reflective (沉思的).
"We should not fear boredom." said Julie Robinson. "Boredom is valuable to children. Quiet, reflective time is just as important as purposeful activity," she added.
Her opinion is that constant (连续不断的) activity for a child, often the result of the dreams of parents, will lead to concerned and worrying adult. The traditional ideas that children should be constantly active could prevent the development of their imagination. So anything that improves a greater thoughtfulness is to be warmly welcomed.
Parents now feel a sense of failure when they hear their children complain about being bored. They seek an electronic devices (设备) to play games at once. And we didn't feel bored during long car journeys anymore by the impatient "Are we there yet?" because all kinds of electronic devices have been taken along to avoid even a minute of boredom. So what chance do children have to allow their thoughts to wander?
But it's not just children who need lessons in reflection. Adults need that, too. On my train journey to work this morning, I couldn't see a single person who wasn't using an electronic device. No one was simply looking out of the window at the beautiful views of the county side. Not time for quiet thinking, even in the quiet library. There were emails to send, texts to read, and games to play. The wider world, seemingly, didn't exist. The mobile phone has changed many things about our lives, and has developed an inability — among adults as well as children — to live in the present. What Julie Robinson regards is a cross-generational phenomenon: the fear of "inactivity". And she is right.
