If an intervention not going as I planned is considered a failure, then it would be correct to view this intervention of mine as a failure.
After careful consideration, I have identified the factors contributing to this failure.
Failure factors:
-The first and main factor was my naive assumption that inviting 10 pre-selected children and leaving the remaining 10 spaces open for local children would create positive synergy through diverse activities and opinions as various children come together.
-Overlooking the fact that the strong sense of community deeply rooted in this area does not pursue diversity.
-Schools for children here are communities, and there are many considerations in interacting with other communities; it’s taken for granted that there will be a closed-off tendency if those standards are not met.
-Many parents do not consider the local library a safe space. I should be secure more relaxing environment for participants. I should have considered it more.
A comforting factor was that, instead of carrying out the intervention I had prepared, I made sure the children who remained had a fun time. I thought it was necessary to override any awkwardness that some might have felt with a more enjoyable experience.
Reflection and Analysis:
I should have engaged more with the parents to receive a wider range of feedback by listening directly to the children’s stories. Children, still under the protection of their parents, are greatly influenced and tend to replicate the fundamental thoughts held by their parents. It’s not easy for parents to grant certain permission to their children, as they cannot possess them unless they want them themselves, and sometimes it cannot be encouraged because it creates conflict. Children grow by inheriting their unique mental and material legacy within the family, feeling a sense of security within the family culture. While living in the community called school, they meet and understand others, expanding their boundaries; however, in many cases, the more selectively they attend schools, the deeper, rather than broader, those boundaries tend to become. It’s the beginning of a league of their own. My intervention seems to have considered the possibility of creating culture from a media-centred perspective without considering many aspects. A deeper analysis and revised plan are necessary for next intervention.
How can children overcome their family and educational structures, which can sometimes limit their experiences and perspectives? Is it too much adventure for them? More importantly, is it necessary?
