A young lady from Wisconsin, eighteen year-old Sarah Roney, wrote about Littleton. The answer, of course, is for parents to reassert their authority over their own children. Too many have forgotten that they are the experts in raising their children and have bought into the lie that government-supported programs know best. It is easy to understand the concern of legislators and educators who are frustrated by parents who are increasingly abdicating their roles as their own children s primary guardians, disciplinarians and teachers of values. Yet by continually taking over the role that should be exercised by parents, schools are exacerbating the problem.
Government can never replace parents.
They shouldn t try. Lantieri and Patti admit that many teachers are uncomfortable with teaching values and attitudes to their students. The following should send chills down the backs of parents. And often they are supported by members of the public who feel that the responsibility to teach young people social and emotional skills belongs in the home alone. Many teachers oppose the programs discussed above and they deserve support from parents.