America’s future lies in its youth and that fact causes me a lot of worry. The generation I was born into, those now of college age and just past college age, causes enough worry but the generations following my own truly scare me. The preferred forms of discipline have changed over the years, and due to that, our country’s youth is not being taught the basic common decency, respect, and morals that the previous generations were taught from an early age and that are part of what makes America so great. Without these important qualities being instilled into the youth of America, it seems that America’s future is on a downward spiral.
Over the years, an increased emphasis on child psychology has caused parents to change their views on childrearing and discipline. The majority of parents are leaning towards beliefs that gave their children more power in the household. Child manuals like the one written by Benjamin Spock, encouraged changing the approach to the family structure. “The locus of power should shift, these experts seemed to suggest, so that kids are equal members of the household” (Rosellini). These ideas grew and expanded. By following this thinking, authority was slowly being taken away from the parents and given to the children until we have reached the point we are at now. Too often, it is the children that truly run the household. Children aren’t being taught to respect authority or even the idea of respect in general. They are being taught that with enough pushing they get what it is they want and that “authority figures” are just a joke and to be disregarded. Without this formerly instilled characteristic, America’s disrespectful youth is growing into America’s disrespectful adults. And America’s adults are who are leading and running this country. That makes me wonder. Without respect, and respect for authority, where is it they will lead this country?
There are many that believe the older forms of punishment/discipline, especially corporal punishment (spanking), are wrong and even abusive. They cite studies that claim that spanking causes children to become depressed and even received lower earnings later in life. In the article “When to Spank,” published in U.S. News & World Report, Lynn Rosellini and Anna Mulrine cite research and studies conducted that had previously not received much attention. These concluded that (in the words of Marjorie Linder Gunoe) “claims that spanking teaches aggression seems unfounded” (Rosellini). Other similar punishments that are meant to instill the concept that a children’s actions will have consequences, and that they will be held accountable, have also been pushed aside for a new “friendly” approach to discipline. Some of these techniques include encouraging that parents treat their children “much as we treat a friend or spouse” (Rosellini). Again, this gives the child the power instead of the adult and also causes a breakdown in the actual purpose of discipline. It does not force the child to understand the concept of responsibility. I am not sure I want this country run by people who can’t understand responsibility.
With the decline in discipline we see a decline in conscientious responsible adults. The older generations, and our former leaders, did not make this country what it is today to have it destroyed, or at least diminished in global respect, due to the disrespectful, undisciplined, uncaring youth of today. They did not work as hard as they did to watch this country fall apart due to the downward spiral of America’s youth.
Work Cited
Rosellini, Lynn and Anna Mulrine. “When to Spank.” U.S. News & World Report April 19, 1998.
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