Spock’s child-rearing theories back to ruin us

Politicians should not come up with cockamamie theories on how to teach children, writes

IRichard.

wonder how many of our education experts, psychologists, social workers and politicians have ever stood in front of a class of boisterous, know-all 14-15 yearolds, day after day, year after year.

I doubt if many have had the pleasure, otherwise they would not come up with the cockamamie theories and presumptions that they do. Teaching adults is far different from teaching a class of 50 youngsters, where 60% of them are not interested in education, but prefer having a good time and generally causing chaos.

Dr Benjamin Spock in the 1960s “turned out a generation of coddled infants who developed into demanding little tyrants. The small monsters have grown up to be unkempt, irresponsible, destructive, anarchical, drug-oriented, hedonistic nonmembers of society...” Sound familiar?

Dr Spock believed that parents must not impose on the child in any way; in other words, give in to their demands.

Children had to have “freedom of expression”, thus promoting narcissism and contempt for authority. Spanking a big no-no.

Dr Spock eventually became aware of his negative influence on parents and society and admitted that it “had contributed to an increase in permissive parenting in America” – and changed his tune.

Isn’t this what is happening in our homes and schools today? A resurrection of Spock’s absurd theories on child-rearing that ruined a generation – and is now ruining ours.

Will we never learn?