The sensory room
This newspaper recently reported on the new "sensory" room at Northside Elementary School. This type of therapy is surely needed for children with actual mental or physical problems such as autism. For normal children to use the room when they've had a "stressful" event, psychoanalyze themselves, and decide what they need to do about it is an example of why raising responsible, obedient, respectful kids went off the rails decades ago -- beginning in the 1960s.
Dr. John Rosemond, a family psychologist, writes a weekly column in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, sometimes answering desperate parents who've lost control of their child. His column addresses the problems modern child psychology has created through their advice to young parents; resulting in too many young people who are disrespectful, irresponsible, selfish, bullies, suicidal, and too frequently violent -- a recent school shooting involved a 12-year-old girl who carried a gun to school.
My two sons were born in the early 1960s about the time this nonsense began, when parents were admonished, "Don't say 'No,' you'll damage their psyche!" The kid being raised that way was the worst brat in the group. Children aren't born prepared for a civilized society -- they must be taught self-control and acceptable behavior, through discipline and guidance, together with love -- understanding the parent is the authority. Which studies show gives a child security and direction in their life.
Another debilitating theory: Schools should engender a child's self-esteem; not for a best effort, but because they're just so special. How does this encourage a child to do their best, if "everyone gets a trophy?" Of course, it's very important for a child to be praised, when it's apparent he really tried and did his best.
Retirees send letters to Voices, Democrat-Gazette, who have given up substitute teaching, because they can't stand the students' behavior. My daughter-in-law teaches in Houston, and the problem is both student behavior and parents in denial. Siloam schools haven't escaped this problem..
Gwen Rockwood's recent column in the D-G was entitled "Full-grown toddlers," young adults who, through uncontrolled rage over trivial situations, reacted with horrendous shootings. A quote from the column: "Our great-grandparents knew they weren't entitled to a steady stream of good feelings; and they knew that annoyance, disappointments, anger and profound grief would be part of their life experiences." This echoes Dr. Rosemond's point that our grandparents didn't have present day difficulties raising their children.
Barbara Foreman
Siloam Springs
Editorial on 02/14/2018