Interesting, if not absurd, article on CNN.com today… one of the few not pope related. It seems that more teachers are straying away from red ink because of it’s negative conotations. That, and parent’s complaints. Now this seems a little out of hand to me, not because I’m a “tough love” advocate, but because COME ON! How senstive are we?
I was a solid B student. I had my fair share of red ink. I failed many a spelling test — I know it may be hard to believe. Do I feel like less of a person because I knew the painful smear of the red ink? No. Do I think that perhaps we’ve gotten a bit ridiculous when it comes to protecting our children from the “horrors” of life? Do I think that by sterilizing our children of the small traumas — name calling and bruised knees among them — of childhood that we may be creating adults without the mechanisms to deal well with the difficulties of disappointment? Do I think this has something to to with the collective rising anxiety of the greatest country on earth, the United States of America (sorry Cameron)? Yes, yes and you bet your ass I do.
This just in, Superintendent Cancels School on Fears Children May Get Their Feelings Hurt.
Thoughts?
Matthew says:
April 5th, 2005 at 10:32 pm
I’m keeping a box of thick, red felt tip pens so I can start marking up my kid’s pre-school arts and crafts projects. Maybe I’ll even put a big red X on their forhead when they’ve been bed. My version of the scarlett letter.
Actually, I totally agree with you. Children live up or down to adult’s expectations. We need to teach our children how to handle defeat. How to bounce back from adversity. Otherwise how can we truly be sure our children can handle anything?
4Sanity says:
April 6th, 2005 at 1:04 am
I must agree with you I am not a parent myself but think it a little absurd that they would change the red pen. so what will happen in another few years the kids will associate purple with negative? The people that come up with this stuff really don’t have much to do with their time do they?!
melissa says:
April 6th, 2005 at 7:38 am
Seems to me there are other more urgent things to spare kids from, such as abuse, neglect, prejudice. Trauma from being red-penned? Far out.
Cameron says:
April 6th, 2005 at 3:23 pm
We let you think you are the greatest country on Earth, it keeps you busy, while we slip our Fifth Column across your boarder.
One day soon Political Officer Comrade Céline Dion will rise up, with Comrade’s Fox, Akroyd and the others at her side.
Purplemartini says:
April 18th, 2005 at 11:46 am
It should be noted that “C” is not longer just for cookie. Apparently the people at Sesame street think that C should be for more healthy food choices than cookies. Well heck, I grew up with C only being for cookie and that was good enough for me.