Goofus and Gallant Teach History and Ethnography—Sullen Goofus

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On this date on Round and Square's History 

18 August 2013—China's Lunar Calendar 2013 08-18
18 August 2013—From the Geil Archive: Hat and Cattle
18 August 2012—Rural Religion in China (14)
18 August 2011—Displays of Authenticity: Thome Run #600

[a] Highlights Magazine 2001

You probably didn't see this coming. Here is one of the oddest pedagogical experiments in the twentieth century, and it makes the Republic of China (on Taiwan) primary school readers look almost tame in comparison (well, sometimes). It began as early as 1936, depending on the hoary sources you investigate. By 1948, it was a part of Highlights magazine for children, and I got my copy every week (several decades after 1948, I might add) at Randall School in Madison, Wisconsin, back when the Badgers lost eighty percent of their football games. 

This series will teach us a great deal about culture, society...and history. I lived some of it. I would be lying if I said that I didn't aspire to be Gallant...even as I recognized the stupid lack of irony in all of these unreflective adults-writing-for-children-DIDACTIC posts. Still, I aspired to be Gallant. I'm proof that you can be didactic with some of the children, some of the time (for better or worse).

[a] Perfection crossing RF

As we take a look for the next few weeks at more recent "Goofus and Gallant" posts, we can still see that Goofus is a little jerk. Although it is a small sample, something does seem to have changed a little bit. Goofus remains rude, to be sure, but he seems to be sulking a little bit more than in those 1960s pictures of rudeness we have seen.

Take a look at the images at the bottom. All I can say is that if I were Goofus's parent, I would be happy to get out of the house every once in a while. On top of it, he has been a pesky youth since...1959. Like Bart and Lisa Simpson, he never ages.

The image on top is even more problematic. We've all had times when we aren't ready to chat with our friends for one reason or another. Saying within earshot "tell him I'm not here" is one of those line-crossers that most of us learn pretty early on. Go hide under your bed, or zip up into the treehouse. Don't make mom cover for you.

[c] Goofus's parents pull away RF

Gallant understands all of these things as he weaves, happily and effortlessly, through the social waters. In fact, he is so perfect that there is a reason why most Internet searches you will do of the pair will come up with ironic fake-Highlights, many of which are hilarious.

By 2001, Goofus was pouting; Gallant remained ever-perfect. 

Is there any wonder that people who know a little bit more about the world (usually that means every fourth or fifth grader) would want something maybe just a little bit...less saintly?

[d] Gallantly perfect RF