Children on Cardassia

[TerokNor]

How do you imagine a cardassian childhood on Cardassia Prime would look like?
Parted in the age groups 0 to 3, 4 to 9 and 10 upwards. Also parted in children from poor families and children from rich, powerful families. And parted in children from mostly civilian families and children from mostly military families.
School/ nursery(?) life and family life/ sparetime?
What would the differences be to a human childhood (as we know it today)?

TerokNor

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

I believe that canon states the education system is extremely rigorous and begins at an early age. Beyond that, I am not sure we have any other official sources on the matter.

 

[TerokNor]

Thanks for always answering me. I appreciate that.
And yes, you are right thats what canon says. However because it just says not very much, thats why I ask for peoples imaginations. I mean thats what we do daily all through our lifes...constructing and co-constracting reality through perception and interaction...and thats what also works for "imaginative realities"...and though it is possibel to construct an imaginative world only with one fantasy involved, I find it gets much more complex and interessting, when some more views and ideas and thoughts come together.

TerokNor

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

True. But there does come a point where I think we have to decide for ourselves--especially if we're writing stories, we need that creative independence.

 

[TerokNor]

Yeah, but I don´t think creative independence gets restricted when listening to other peoples thoughts. It can help to sort out details.
Well maybe I should write what I think and than see, if people have thoughts to that?

TerokNor

 

[TerokNor]

I know I wanted to write my thoughts, but right now I am busy tinkering around at one special cardassian school only and not whole childhood. I just wonder about something and maybe there are some opinions... if the school is for the few children, that may be a bit more...difficult in their attitute and they got placed at that school, because of observations the obsidian order made and reports of teachers mostly... what sort of punishments would be used, when those children behave not as they should behave? I have a few, some quite mild, others cruel (like a point system that either gives freeedoms or takes them away, having to perform duties that are not anyones favourite, isolation, having to miss a meal...)...however what I just wonder about is, would they use actually punishment devices on their own children? A bit like the one they had for Picard...not that strong, but painful enough, trying in that way to mold those missbehaving children into the obidient citizens they want. Or would that be too strict and cruel?

TerokNor

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Not sure about the pain device...I think, however, psychological pain could be very severe.

 

[Rush Limborg]

It would explain why Gul Madred's daughter was totally fine with seeing a tortured Picard on the ground in front of her....

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

It would explain why Gul Madred's daughter was totally fine with seeing a tortured Picard on the ground in front of her....

That or the constant propaganda about how non-Cardassian species aren't really people...she saw Picard as an animal like the wompat she kept confined in that inhumane little ball, not a person.

 

[TerokNor]

I think for that little girl the propaganda probbaly would do to react the way she did when seeing Picard. She seemed like a very obidient child.
However for the not so obidient children I am still not sure.
I love the idea with the psychological pain, as that indeed fits well into Cardassian society. It was shown with Picard as well..I mean th question with the lights and Madred wanting Picard to say the answer he wanted him to say was a play of authority on the psychological basis.
For the pain devices for the not obidient children...just cannot decite...if, I thought it might be viisbel ones, little silver plates that are put in the spoon features on their heads. So it would not be only a ain device, but becauseits visibel for everyone, also psychological torture...as the society in general would not be fond of children, that need to be send to that special school. A bit like they are not fond of orphans...just that those children still get "the chance" to become like society wants them...so the staate does take care of them in a way.

TerokNor

 

[Mr. Scott]

I am an American living in China, and I think Cardassian education is about the same.

According to DS9, Cardassian children's education is very test based, and that all children should strive to make the best scores to enter the best schools. No individual thought whatsoever. They study all the time because their families demand it. Going to the best University, getting a high government post, being in the military, this was the most important.

Cardassians love their children and when they don't stack up greatly against everyone else, it is a shame among them, although I think they still love love their kids and do whatever through any political connection to get them a job somewhere, or at least cannon fodder for the military.

Cardassia had a somewhat militeristic, somewhat Communist government. This government has only been around for several generations. Cardassians were very intellectual at one time, and still intellegent beings. For some reason which was unexplained in DS9, why this once intellectual peaceful people decided to go militeristic. Maybe Cardassia prime was overpopulated. Something was wrong in their society that they has to conquer other Worlds like Bajor.

Cardassians are not as strong as Romulans. There was a dispute in the highest ranks of power if it was wise to make peace with the Romulans and even be their allies. I think it seems that the Cardassian Empire seemed surrounded by the Federation, the Romulans, and to a lesser extent the Klingons. Klingons made peace with the federation, but this doesn't mean that they couldn't go after the Rommies or the Cardies. The Klingons were turned from the enemy of the Federation to their attack dogs.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

I definitely think Cardassian education is closest to what you would see in a Communist regime. Now, I tend to use Russia as my model for Cardassia when writing--but I think the Chinese model would work.

Be careful, Mr. Scott! And I hope you can get out of China as quickly as possible.