There’s something I’ve never been able to understand about the way some adults interact with children. I call it “The Phony Voice.”
I’m sure you know what I mean. It’s the guest speaker who speaks naturally to adults before a presentation, but then hops up an octave and goes into patronizing mode when speaking to children. It’s the sugary sweet, fakey-fake, I-could-never-sustain-this-for-a-whole-day voice, and kids pick up on it right away. Even by second or third grade, when this occurs, I’ve had students shoot me quizzical glances as if to say, “Are you kidding me?” But the owner of The Phony Voice never picks up on the students’ amazement, and it seems a bit rude to try to correct the person in between sentences.
So to everyone who reads this blog: please, speak to children in a dignified manner. They can handle it.
Posted by mpullen 
