The picture painted in The Coddling of the American Mind is harsh. We’ve truly had a lot go wrong and we’ve put a lot of fear and anxiety into our lives, and much of it that is unnecessary. Is there any hope? They give some ideas, thankfully.
First, start with childhood. Colleges definitely need work (and these two university professors know those issues), but why not start kids off better?
Here are some quick points they offer:
- Prepare the child for the road, not the road for the child. (Let them have some small risks early and grow the space for risk as they get older.)
- Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own thoughts, unguarded. (HINT: Quit watching “Criminal Minds” and “Law and Order: SVU”.)
- The line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. (In other words, you can find good in a Republican AND a Democrat. Hard to believe, I know.)
- Help schools to oppose the great untruths. (Demand more recess!)
- Limit and refine device time. (Well… those first four seem doable!)
- Support a new national norm: service or work before college.
Apprentice 2 Jesus 