ON THE CUTTING EDGE: It Takes A Village
Writing in The Wall Street Journal, Jeff Zaslow wistfully recalls a time when any adult a child came into contact with – a neighbor, a policeman, a teacher - could give him a good tongue lashing if he was caught doing something he ought to not have been doing. He explains why, as a society, we now shrink from acting in loco parentis to correct bad behavior that parents aren’t around to see:
As a society, we have grown reluctant to reprimand kids -- not just our own, but other people's, too. Yes, in theory, we believe it takes a village to raise a child. But lately, the village feels pressure to keep its collective mouth shut.
To combat the problem, child advocates are trying to bring back the concept of "parents beyond parents." They tout research showing that kids who receive constructive input from an array of adults are less likely to use drugs, lie to parents or commit crimes. …
Too many parents, however, don't want to be told when their kids do something wrong. They are defensive, worrying that any criticism reflects poorly on them. Or they are overprotective, fearing every stranger is a potential predator. Or they are indulgent, thinking they must protect their little darlings' self-esteem.
Since then, supportive customers have shared with
"I beg your pardon!" snapped the girl's mother. "Don't call my daughter 'honey,' and whatever she does is none of your business!"
Mr.
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