Are We Setting Our Children Up to Fail?

By Arnold Nadler

I'm concerned with many of the modern-day parenting concepts. In my era there were more defined parental rules for children to be success as adults. Taught and Ingrained into kids back then were expectations like being well- mannered, respecting elders, obeying the law, listening to authority figures, doing well in school, and religious beliefs. All this was teaching a child how to be a decent respectful adult with values. If any of these expectations were not fulfilled, there was consequences for those actions. It all depended on the infraction as to the punishments handed-out which were grounded, no television, no biking as the worst one being spanked on the bum. Disciplining children to me is not child abuse, but much of society believes reasoning with kids makes more sense then punishment. It is my opinion every person must understand the difference between right and wrong. A healthy fear would be understanding there are consequences for those actions. As an adult if someone steals a car there is no reasoning, it's a crime they go to jail having a criminal record. Kids are not born knowing any of this, it is there parents who teach them what is and is not acceptable in the world.

If you're upbringing is balanced with affection, encouragement, praise, and tough love then a person's chances to succeed are much greater. Where I live they have instilled a program in schools called no child left behind. Which means if your kid can't add two plus two, or is failing classes they still pass to the next grade. The idea is not to hurt any child's feelings, so when they leave high school illiterate how does that make sense? The real question is how come those parents who have kids failing are not helping? I also believe that most of these children who are diagnosed with A.D.H.D, need a swift kick in the butt to straighten them out. There are some kids who have it, but the majority I think are not getting the proper home training. Now both the kids and the parents have an excuse for their child's bad behavior, poor work etc... The interesting part is that the ones who have potential are not funded, but the kid with A.D.H.D gets teachers aides etc... In my youth I was given an allowance for doing things around the house. If they weren't done or not properly no allowance. When I did get it, if blown in one day, no more until next weeks allowance learning fiscal responsibility. Today kids are provided thousands of dollars of merchandise in cellphones, laptops, and gaming devices. Not earning these things, just expecting them to be there isn't how life works. When they become adults, they have a sense of entitlement.

I believe we need to start taking the time to teach our children better, this way they are really prepared for life ahead. If not, as we are seeing already a large percentage of young adults are failing at life.