May I be bitchy and point out that if today's youth weren't so damned spoiled and indulged before they got to college, they wouldn't need medication to deal with the fact that they are not a beautiful and unique snowflake?
I'm speaking about the types of kids who can afford to go to MIT. I know not all kids today are like that. And not even all kids that can afford to go to MIT. But when you buy a child an $80k car for their Sweet Sixteen, you are not exactly preparing them for life in the Real World. When you give a child every single thing their grubby little hands seek out without making them earn it, you are not preparing them for the fact that sometimes, you don't/can't get everything you want without any effort. When you focus your entire life on pleasing your child and protecting them from every harsh word, disappointment, and dust mite that is out there, you are not preparing them for the fact that they might fail. Schools that no longer allow field day competitions because not every child can win and they don't want the children to feel bad about themselves is not preparing these children for mistakes or failure. School systems that promote failing children because they don't want to damage their self-esteem are not preparing these children for the fact that they will be unable to cope with the demands of the real world.
I'm pro-mental health and pro-medication, but frankly, unless they are blatantly rejecting people based on mental health problems, MIT has nothing to apologize for other than being insensitive. They should provide the basic care that any university would provide. It is not the university's job to clean up and fund the quivering wreck that the kids' parents have created.
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timeasmymeasure
Tangential
Date: 2004-08-20 02:16 pm (UTC)I'm speaking about the types of kids who can afford to go to MIT. I know not all kids today are like that. And not even all kids that can afford to go to MIT. But when you buy a child an $80k car for their Sweet Sixteen, you are not exactly preparing them for life in the Real World. When you give a child every single thing their grubby little hands seek out without making them earn it, you are not preparing them for the fact that sometimes, you don't/can't get everything you want without any effort. When you focus your entire life on pleasing your child and protecting them from every harsh word, disappointment, and dust mite that is out there, you are not preparing them for the fact that they might fail. Schools that no longer allow field day competitions because not every child can win and they don't want the children to feel bad about themselves is not preparing these children for mistakes or failure. School systems that promote failing children because they don't want to damage their self-esteem are not preparing these children for the fact that they will be unable to cope with the demands of the real world.
I'm pro-mental health and pro-medication, but frankly, unless they are blatantly rejecting people based on mental health problems, MIT has nothing to apologize for other than being insensitive. They should provide the basic care that any university would provide. It is not the university's job to clean up and fund the quivering wreck that the kids' parents have created.