I appreciate your points very much.
The point, as I attempted to articulate, was not that children NEED to be in touch with parents - that is, unless the parents themselves feel that way. That cell phones make things easier for many parents is not the thing to question here, in my mind. That’s a separate issue altogether. The fact that the instilling of values, limits and discipline has gone by the way-side is my point.
The extent of “cotton-wrapping” by parents is entirely a separate issue. My issue is with the nanny-ing of children by the state through regulations, rules and lack of common sense.
I think that we’re talking about the same thing - from a couple of different perspectives....
” The extent of “cotton-wrapping” by parents is entirely a separate issue. My issue is with the nanny-ing of children by the state through regulations, rules and lack of common sense. “
These are not, IMO, ‘separate issues’ — they are both symptoms of the same phenomenon: belief in the modern mythos of absolute feel-good at any cost....
I think it's part of the same point. Weak-willed parents turned over the upbringing of their children to the state, and they've created an equally weak-willed culture in their proxies. For example, why can't the schools exercise firm discipline? Because parents will sue them. Why can't children run, jump, throw a ball, or ride a bicycle? Because their parents will sue if they get hurt.
The problem is with the public at large, and it's perpetuated in the schools only because the public puts up with it.