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Patricia Zaballos's avatar

This is such an important conversation! I’m a former public school teacher who decided, way back in 1996, to homeschool with my three now-grown kids. I learned so much from my kids about how to give them independence and agency, and how to trust them. And for me, it was a very intellectually satisfying life, though our culture loudly insists it would be otherwise!

What concerns me now is that not only do we not respect children in our society, we have—in the last thirty years or so—stolen away their autonomy. I’m writing a book about this and it’s alarming how this has come about for a whole slew of reasons: the rise of parenting “experts,” the No Child Left Behind Act, changes in the college application process, fears for children’s safety, the rise of intensive parenting…I could go on.

But all the media seems to talk about is how kids are being ruined by phones.😩

There is so much more we need to be looking at when it comes to children. I’m really worried about what we’re doing to childhood. I’m grateful that you’re taking time to shine a light on this, Sarah. It matters.

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Amy B's avatar

Wow your observation about spending more effort to figure out outdoor dining than outdoor schooling is brutal, yet so true. Thanks for this powerful post.

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