“Parents are used to being made to feel guilty about...their contribution to the population problem, the school tax burden, and declining test scores. They expect to be blamed by teachers and psychologists, if not by police. And they will be blamed by the children themselves. It is hardy a wonder, then, that they withdraw into what used to be called "permissiveness" but is really neglect.” IfsFeelsChildrenMadeProblemSchoolUsedParentWonderTeacherTaxesTestsPolicePopulationBurdenUsed To BeGuiltyContributionScoreNeglectPsychologistHardyTest ScoresTax BurdenPopulation Problem Author:C. Sommerville
“[17th-century] Puritans were the first modern parents. Like many of us, they looked on their treatment of children as a test of their own self-control. Their goal was not to simply to ensure the child's duty to the family, but to help him or her make personal, individual commitments. They were the first authors to state that children must obey God rather than parents, in case of a clear conflict.” FirstsChildrenSelfStatesHelpingIndividualParentGoalCasesClearModernCenturyDutyConflictCommitmentTestsTreatmentSelf ControlPuritan17th Century Author:C. Sommerville