On Age in Equestria · 4:16pm Feb 2nd, 2015
This is an idea I've been musing on for a while, and I thought that since it's going to play a decent sized role in the PLA within a few chapters, I might as well talk about it now. Plus, I had time, and... you know, I could also apologize for not updating WTPV in a while (I'm sorry for not updating WTPV in a while, Sundays are usually my writing day and I've had stuff going on during them).
So anyways, right... Ponies can gain independence in Equestria a lot faster than people can in the real world. While I always felt this way for various reasons (like the fact that Ponyville seems to lack an equivalent to high school and has a one-room schoolhouse for educating everypony), Pinkie Pride confirmed that theory for me and made it into the canon which I'm basing my story off of. If you don't know every scene of that episode by heart (heretic!), I'm referring to the scene where Cheese reveals his actual past. He leaves his home before getting a cutie mark and it's apparently not a big deal. More importantly though, we see that Pinkie, who is roughly Cheese's contemporary in age, has moved out from her parents' rock farm to live in Ponyville.
To me, it seems that around the time a pony gets her cutie mark, it's considered socially acceptable for her to head out on her own to pursue her special talent. For Life Bloom, this meant heading to PLA so she can learn more about biology and get her doctorate and for Scootaloo, this means moving somewhere where her scootering is more likely to attract notice. As for Sweetie... Well, you'll see what she does soon enough (within four chapters, I swear).
To be fair, a magical tattoo that all but screams: 'YES! This is my one greatest passion in life! Ask me anything about it, because I love [Subject X] so much an semi-abstract representation of it spontaneously formed on my butt!'
...Well, that is one heck of a diploma in itself, right there.
I would agree that ponies do mature sooner than humans. It looks like most get their cutie marks in basic elementary school so that would be between the ages of 7 to 9 and should graduate basic elementary by age 10. This would give them a well-rounded education in reading, writing, and arithmetic. Enough to get by in life. At this point I’d day they are old enough to be on their own, but I’d question if they could really be considered adults.
While the cutie mark lets a pony know their special talent or gift it doesn’t mean they are really good at it. Taking Sweetie Belle as an example. She can sing, and sings very well. Enough to move an audience. There are many things she can improve on in her singing career. A voice coach could increase her ability to hear, and hit the right notes. Also increase her range to several octaves. She has shown an interest in show tunes so a school on the theater would be needed as it is outside her special talent, but in her interest and coincides with her talent. That would teach her stage presence. In life she will find other skills that are needed. The hated math to do her own books or at least make sure the accountant she hires isn’t cheating her. She may want to improve her literary skills so she can write songs, and compose music for the songs.
I just see the cutie mark as letting others know, “I’m good at this.” But it doesn’t mean they are great at it. For ponies I envision ‘adult' at around 13 years of age, a number that has proven to work for humans in some societies. This would allow a pony to attend a secondary school of their choice to improve on their special talent and pick up additional skills to compliment that talent. For a few further special education may be needed above and beyond research to hone a skill that is narrower than their cutie mark implies.
Twilight learned the basics in a school setting. She moved on to learn in the Gifted Unicorn School how to take her talent and fine tune it. From Celestia she learned how to do independent study so now she does her own research and discoveries as there is no school that could teach her what she wants to learn. Sweetie Belle may soon be in the same position where no one can teach her to be a better singer. Instead she will have to look within and improve through trial and error.
According to Lauren Faust ponies develop faster physically than mentally, so it stands to reinforce your viewpoint since being physically mature is one of the first steppes into adulthood.
I've seen a few analysis guys place the mane6 at around 17 years old, so considering Twilight finished a higher form of education... Their society seems to cut out most school years in favor of self discovery, which ends up with Rarity owning a shop at 17.
Don't know what this says about pony society at large though... having physically fit but mentally not yet there citizens... well I can understand why all them ponies be silly... and yet it works so well, because they are so forgiving and happy and trusting... damn ponies be better at it that anything in human history.
That is all :)
What do PLA and WTPV stand for? (please answer my question tomorrow)
2764932 Princess Luna's Academy and Welcome to Pony Vale.