12-19-2012, 09:24 PM
Flygoddess,
I gotta agree with you 100% about parents needing to step up. I've had at least 60 years (I'm 72) to watch the way parenting has changed in our society. When I was young, we were taught respect for authority and our elders as well as for the rights of others. When we failed to do so, we suffered the consequences. A flat hand, belt, flyswatter, switch, wooden spoon etc. administered with enough force and duration to impress on us the gravity of our transgressions usually "adjusted" our attitudes. In fact, the use of a wooden paddle, while only used for major offenses, was standard practice in the elementary school I attended. Some of my high school teachers kept one in their desks but I don't recall one ever being used. If any of my brothers or I received discipline, corporal or otherwise at school, we really got it when we got home. None of us grew up warped in our behavior, in fact several people have told me that my siblings and I were some of the best behaved young people to grow up in our town.
When I returned from my stint in the Marines, I remember noticing a change. Kids, even little ones, were sassy to others and were allowed to throw tantrums in public and the parents did little to correct them. If they did anything it was to distract or mollify them. Also, if a child was even physically restrained at school, the parents were up in arms to defend the brat. Far, far too many children today have insufficient behavior guidance from their parents and it really shows.
Add to that the violence shown on TV, in the movies and in so awful many video games and it's no wonder there are so many warped people in our society.
When parents abrogate their parenting responsibility and hand it off to the schools and childcare yet are willing to "go to war" to defend misbehaving brats, it's no wonder things are going wrong. I kinda think they may be so defensive out of guilt that they haven't taught their kids better.
I don't know where we go from here what with so many parents needing two incomes to get by but I do know that I often feel like apologizing to my grandchildren for the mess they've inherited.
Whooooeeee! I got on my soapbox this time. MODS NOTE, if I went too far, I won't get all hurt if you pull this.
[signature]
I gotta agree with you 100% about parents needing to step up. I've had at least 60 years (I'm 72) to watch the way parenting has changed in our society. When I was young, we were taught respect for authority and our elders as well as for the rights of others. When we failed to do so, we suffered the consequences. A flat hand, belt, flyswatter, switch, wooden spoon etc. administered with enough force and duration to impress on us the gravity of our transgressions usually "adjusted" our attitudes. In fact, the use of a wooden paddle, while only used for major offenses, was standard practice in the elementary school I attended. Some of my high school teachers kept one in their desks but I don't recall one ever being used. If any of my brothers or I received discipline, corporal or otherwise at school, we really got it when we got home. None of us grew up warped in our behavior, in fact several people have told me that my siblings and I were some of the best behaved young people to grow up in our town.
When I returned from my stint in the Marines, I remember noticing a change. Kids, even little ones, were sassy to others and were allowed to throw tantrums in public and the parents did little to correct them. If they did anything it was to distract or mollify them. Also, if a child was even physically restrained at school, the parents were up in arms to defend the brat. Far, far too many children today have insufficient behavior guidance from their parents and it really shows.
Add to that the violence shown on TV, in the movies and in so awful many video games and it's no wonder there are so many warped people in our society.
When parents abrogate their parenting responsibility and hand it off to the schools and childcare yet are willing to "go to war" to defend misbehaving brats, it's no wonder things are going wrong. I kinda think they may be so defensive out of guilt that they haven't taught their kids better.
I don't know where we go from here what with so many parents needing two incomes to get by but I do know that I often feel like apologizing to my grandchildren for the mess they've inherited.
Whooooeeee! I got on my soapbox this time. MODS NOTE, if I went too far, I won't get all hurt if you pull this.
[signature]