Culture Clash

I guess I set myself up for culture shock since I read newspapers, and magazines including local weeklies that purport to “enlighten parents”.  And I am also a regular reader of books and journals in developmental psychology. As a consulting editor for NAEYC, I am a staunch defender of “Developmentally Appropriate Practice”, and absolutely certain about the value of play. My position about standards vs. individualized instruction is predictable. Learning programs should be designed to meet the individual needs of each child. No wonder the public positions on such matters frequently cause me dismay.

One of my favorite little magazines is “The Horn Book” since it not only offers updates about the history and current best of children’s literature, but dares to question some of our deepest held popular assumptions such as a commitment to enhancing kids’ self esteem.  Daniel Greenstone, author of “Ain’t I Great!: The Problem With Self- Esteem”, attacks with powerful data,  the notion that what matters most is to love yourself.  He accurately unmasks the notions that bullies and bad behaving kids have low self-esteem.  As it turns out, not liking one’s self is not an accurate predictor of poor behavior.

Greenstone quotes a NY Times writer who in 2002 predicted that “studies attacking self-esteem would not gain much traction.;” and they haven’t. The Times author pointed out that “Self esteem, as a construct, has become a quasi religion, woven into an (American) tradition.”  It is tough to budge it, just as it is tough to demystify group testing results.

The same can be said of the growing popular conviction that play is a waste of time, and kids should be single-mindedly working toward college acceptance from the day they enter school, maybe even from the day they are born. An article in the current issue of my small town paper announced (with implicit pride) that the Board of Education is offering a presentation for parents of all school children, from kindergarten up, a presentation guiding parents about how to prepare their children to apply to college. Implication: it’s never too soon; children are never too young to begin the college application process. 

Sigh!