Given below are examples of teaching economic organization, social organization, political organization, social control, worldview, art and play.

In the physical realm things are taught as well as actively. For example, in teaching about housing, the Gururumba people have a ceremony when they teach the boys the lay of the land. They take him to a high point, and point out the various areas, landmarks, and tribes to him.

In Samoa, skill in housebuilding is a means of wealth and status. Young man who is skilled carpenter will be treated with respect like a chief, and addressed as a chief, using words of honor.

A Kami man will teach a boy how to build a fence, mainly by example.

When teaching about food, Kami men teach the boys how to cook, clean the hole, build the fire, heat rocks, what type of grass to use (250 types). They'll teach the boys about the yams (50 types), the 100 types of beans, the types of mushrooms. the boy at 10-11 will know these. Some of this teaching is done directly, other is done by observation and listening.

Sina Sina - a little girl will go with a 'mother' to the garden. There she'll  be given a little digging stick and she'll copy the adult digging sweet potatoes and weeding. She also receives a little string bag and will carry home sweet potatoes. An eight year old girl knows enough to be sent alone to part of the garden to dig her own. By this time she's able to carry nearly 30 pounds of sweet potatoes in her little bag. Coming back to the village she'll receive many encouraging remarks: "Wow, here comes a good Sina Sina girl." At this time she may get teased about 'courting'. She's encouraged to look forward to this time and many of the village women will relate stories to her at different times; that is  casual teaching. Maybe they'll do it going to the garden, working there and around the fire at night.

Teaching Economic Organization

Production

In Samoa, men will teach small boys to make bows and arrows for fishing. Kids will spear fish in shallow area, although not enough for meals. Dad will take son out fishing - the boy will watch what dad does. Later he'll go on his own. It is a real motivation to learn how to fish. There are immediate rewards in the shape of food gifts to offer his sweetheart. Without this his advances would be scorned.

Property

Manus - Property is as sacred as life. One wails over the loss of property as over life that's gone. Respect for property is taught to children from the earliest years. Before they can walk they are rebuked and chastised for touching anything that doesn't belong to them. (It isn't put out of reach.) The slightest breakage is punished without mercy.

Attitudes toward property are taught in many ways, and so are attitudes toward work..

Tiv - work is enjoyable when done with others.

U.S. - work is a 'necessary evil'. How come this attitude? "If you don't do that, I'll put you to work," etc..

Teaching Social Organization

Life Cycle

Kami - at birth, naming, puberty, courtship, marriage, conception, birth, (first, second, etc.) death, burial - their beliefs are being repeated over and over again.

At a boys initiation they are taught explicitly and directly about the difference between men and women, the menstrual period (what the moon has to do with it), never to take food from a woman during this time, otherwise he may get pregnant. These plus lots of other things are repeated over and over again for them.

Positive admonitions may be given, like - be strong, ready to fight, help your father and his lineage, attend your gardens, give food to others. (When to kill and why, whom and when to fight.)

Negative admonitions like - DON'T steal within the group, DON"t commit adultery within the group. What'll happen if they do? This is taught not just verbally but demonstrated in front of them. Not to eat food from women at certain time unless she is elderly. Why? It may weaken you, make you ineffective.

Sina Sina - when girl reaches puberty she goes to a little house and her brothers, knowing about it, bring her sugar cane. The entire village knows about it and they talk excitedly about it. During this week in the little house the older women go to visit her especially during the night to instruct her. Her age-mates come to keep her company. Her father proudly comes to bring her treats like nuts, pig meat, rats, sugar cane, etc. Her older sisters take her along with them to the courting parties to learn songs and the art of courting.

The night before a girl is married off and leaves for her husband's village the women take her in the house and instruct her. Women from husband's village come and help in the instruction. It may continue till the early morning hours.

Boys instruction in men's house. They pick up from stories told deliberately by older men, or just by every day activity that is being discussed. Some times the men feel a need for giving definite instructions and gather around to talk about the right way to do things. Like at their sing-sings. Songs were practiced, dances discussed, every detail, how and where to stand and the results from the whole thing. Excitement or anticipation arose from their excited tales and hours would be spent while the young boys gathered around to listen because the excitement was contagious.

2. Status - role is taught. How to act as a son or daughter, how to act as father, husband, etc. What is the proper behavior.

Teaching Political Organization

Leadership:

Kami - they had trials (informal). Kids would be there, and sometimes involved. Here they would learn what was expected behavior - kinship ties, age-grouping. Kids would just sit there and listen.

War:

Manus - boys learn to fight by imitation. Men use spears with bamboo shafts and head of obsidian. The children make small bows and arrows (2 1/2 feet long) and fasten tips of pith to them. Pairs of boys on islet will simultaneously hurl spears at each other. Dodging is as important as throwing (they don't use shields). Boys 10-12 are good at it, and encouraged at it as adults come by.

Attitudes toward leadership and life are deeply taught. Among the TIV it probably didn't take long for the child to understand who the mbatsavs were and what they did.

Teaching Social Control

Expected behavior: By punishment as well as rewards the children are taught what's 'expected.

Kami - a kid throws a temper tantrum. May throw dirt in mother's face. It's encouraged. When person takes aggressive role. If not, they'll shame him. They'll call him 'wild pig'' or 'woman'.

Teaching World View

Supernatural:

Kami - there were spiritual teachers who instructed in these areas--respected men, and they were paid for it.

Tiv - by paying the fee and having sufficient, a man could go to another and be initiated into an akombo rite and be taught that rite - how to do it.

Many tribes - during initiations, deaths burials, teaching is given on the supernatural, the cause of death, where the dead are, etc. But these are not always direct teaching but casual teaching.

Teaching Art and Play

Educational Recreation

Kami - storytelling at night around the fires. Men to boys, etc.

Mock battles - learn to fight. Act out the reason for fight.

String Games - mainly girls. (50-60 types) As they play the game, make the pattern, tell the story that goes with it.

Singing - has to do with building houses (who, how, when, etc.), how to buy a wife, make sweet potatoes grow, etc.

Music - juice harps - the stories that go with these. Without saying a word they'll tell a story.