Boston
Footballguy
I'm talking about the average American, not me. I was fortunate enough to make enough to allow my wife to stay home for several years while my kids were young.I was addressing this: "2. it became painfully obvious how much kids depending on school for non-school things. For whatever the reason at home might be, kids depend a lot on the public schools for food, role models, guidance, counseling. etc."The 40 year shift in the distribution of wealth in this nation has led to a situation where the standard for the average family is that both parents have to work to exist. As such, we are increasingly dependent on schools to perform functions that a stay at home parent might have in the past.@djmich - I will try to answer your question now and maybe put some clearer words to my thoughts.
I think we had a big change during covid, and what I witnessed was:
1. More and more parents involved with what was going on with school and being taught in the classroom. Overall a good thing, but it seems like we are now seeing waaaay more of this type of outrage as well.
2. it became painfully obvious how much kids depending on school for non-school things. For whatever the reason at home might be, kids depend a lot on the public schools for food, role models, guidance, counseling. etc.
Now, my position on this is that #2 is way more of an issue and way more common. When we were talking about hiring guards at schools I was posting stats about how many millions of kids go to school without a counselor, psychologist, or nurse. That is bonkers. On top of this, the school had to weigh the fact that many times the abuse and non-acceptance with certain groups of kids comes from the home. IMO it is part of the resposibilty of the school to provide these things and services. Maybe that is a point that we disagree on, not sure.
Where I am going with this is in theory I have 0 issues with all teachers being trained about things like this - sex, sexuality, abuse, whatever. ESPECIALLY since so many schools don't have people trained in those areas for kids. I am glad they are training teachers how to address these issues or refer them where they need to go. I don't think "I can't talk to you, ask your parent" is always the way to go - like I said, many times that's the issue. This isn't grooming, this isn't teachers wanting to indoctrinate kids and turn them bi. I am willing to give the schools and teachers more benefit of the doubt than that. This is why even my position about the teachers learning this stuff is even on the fence. My reaction is that yes, the fisting part might be a little much, but on the surface I have 0 issues with a math teacher being a part of this training, or buttons being worn so kids know they have a place to turn to.
Can you expand on this...what functions are you talking about?
Parents are less available to children as we're working more, and more of us are working.
Still really not understanding this...I understand something like food if the kid comes from an unfortunate situation or afterschool programs obviously but if you don't have time to raise your kids and teach them about life and are relying on others to do it than you are doing a bad job as a parent.
I am saying that more parental time is devoted to work than it was 40 years ago, and that has impacts. How could it not?
I agree with that 100% and there are far more strains on time and money than there used to be, but you still raise your kids and don't have others do it.