Jonathan Haidt’s latest essay “Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid” in the Atlantic calls attention to concerns related to how Generation Z has been raised.
According to Haidt (and previously fleshed out in his insightful book “The Coddling of the American Mind,” Gen Z members have received more structure and attention throughout their upbringing than any previous generations. Unfortunately, the pre-organized playdates, ongoing extracurriculars, and soft-handed critiques have inhibited their ability to develop grit and gumption.
Haidt isn’t alone in raising these concerns. Autonomous play and independent study are largely foreign concepts to Gen Z, which is why skill sets related to critical thinking and social interaction warrant attention….