Wednesday, December 01, 2004

If You Recognize You're Compounding the Problem, Why Do You Continue?

Writing for The Providence Journal, William H. Caskey, who directs Brown’s Alumni College Advising Program, bemoans, basically, keeping up with the Joneses in matters of higher education.  Caskey’s bemoaning is for the affluent, though I’m fairly certain he has concerns for those of limited means, also, but the gist of his piece is geared toward the affluent, keeping up with the Joneses, and the parents who play that game.

At the start of Caskey’s piece, he propogates the fallacy of more money solving the educational problems in these United States, but it is the ending of the piece that actually spurred me to link to it.

"So what’s my recommendation? Let’s move away from providing our children with airtight support and guidance. Instead, let them make difficult decisions.

Of course, this is easier said than done. I find myself slipping into the pattern that I caution against _ handing my children safe experiences that promise a happy outcome. As I robotically unfurl the safety net, I remind myself that life’s most important and worthy lessons often involve thin envelopes and a few belly flops."

My recommendation.  Quit being a recidivist, make your kids stand on their own two feet, and shove a wooden spoon in their mouth instead of silver one.

“Perilous privileges for ‘teens of means’ “

Via Scripps Howard News Service.

Posted by John Venlet on 12/01 at 06:34 AM
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