Anonymous
Post 02/11/2015 14:23     Subject: Re:Parents...let Harvard go.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
I think the Harvard angst is just a proxy for generalized parental anxiety disorder that afflicts Gen X parents.

Our parents fucked us up with all that latch key/free range parenting stuff, so we're determined to not make the same mistakes.


Disagree. Being a latchkey kid made kids more independent and responsible, mostly, not all. I think the obsession with Ivies is a reflection of people's obsession with materialism and status.


It is that, and a general sense that the U.S. is turning into an economic caste system, kind of like Brazil.

It's more like the Asian model. Kids cramming for exams, only the top have a chances at getting into the schools.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2015 13:43     Subject: Parents...let Harvard go.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think the Harvard angst is just a proxy for generalized parental anxiety disorder that afflicts Gen X parents.

Our parents fucked us up with all that latch key/free range parenting stuff, so we're determined to not make the same mistakes.


Disagree. Being a latchkey kid made kids more independent and responsible, mostly, not all. I think the obsession with Ivies is a reflection of people's obsession with materialism and status.


It is that, and a general sense that the U.S. is turning into an economic caste system, kind of like Brazil.


That's where my (admittedly fairly mild) anxiety comes from. I truly don't care about status or wealth, but I get a little antsy about the increasing inequality gap and what it might mean for her future options.


Ultimately, it won't matter because at some point there will be a working people's revolution.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2015 13:28     Subject: Parents...let Harvard go.
DONE.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2015 13:26     Subject: Parents...let Harvard go.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

It's a reflection of people's feeling that the pie is shrinking, and if your child doesn't have the right credentials, your child won't get a piece.


But, it's society's perception of how much of that pie is enough issue. It's not enough these days, especially in this area, to live in a modest home, drive a modest car, don't take flying vacations and not own a table/smart phone/2 or 3 flat screens. It's the "keeping up with Joneses" mentality that makes people feel this way.


Except that the pie actually is shrinking. A lot of people who used to be securely in the middle class (in their modest homes, with their modest cars) are holding on by the fingernails, or have fallen out of it altogether. Understandably, people don't want that insecurity for their children.


There is some of that. But, for the most part, parents who are obsessed with Ivies are about status/prestige, and making sure their kid will be financially secure. Don't get me wrong. I want my kids to be financially secure, too. But, I don't think going to an Ivy is the only way to secure it. You can go to a non Ivy school and still land a great job that pays well (or even go to a trade school and do well). You can also go to an Ivy, be up to your eyeballs in student loans, and not be able to afford a lifestyle in the 10/20 yrs that you thought you bought with that Ivy degree.

Ultimately, it's how hard you work - whether in Es/MS/HS to get into the Ivy, or in a non-Ivy college and in your job, you can still find financial success.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2015 13:19     Subject: Parents...let Harvard go.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

It's a reflection of people's feeling that the pie is shrinking, and if your child doesn't have the right credentials, your child won't get a piece.


But, it's society's perception of how much of that pie is enough issue. It's not enough these days, especially in this area, to live in a modest home, drive a modest car, don't take flying vacations and not own a table/smart phone/2 or 3 flat screens. It's the "keeping up with Joneses" mentality that makes people feel this way.


Except that the pie actually is shrinking. A lot of people who used to be securely in the middle class (in their modest homes, with their modest cars) are holding on by the fingernails, or have fallen out of it altogether. Understandably, people don't want that insecurity for their children.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2015 13:08     Subject: Parents...let Harvard go.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think the Harvard angst is just a proxy for generalized parental anxiety disorder that afflicts Gen X parents.

Our parents fucked us up with all that latch key/free range parenting stuff, so we're determined to not make the same mistakes.


Disagree. Being a latchkey kid made kids more independent and responsible, mostly, not all. I think the obsession with Ivies is a reflection of people's obsession with materialism and status.


It's a reflection of people's feeling that the pie is shrinking, and if your child doesn't have the right credentials, your child won't get a piece.


But, it's society's perception of how much of that pie is enough issue. It's not enough these days, especially in this area, to live in a modest home, drive a modest car, don't take flying vacations and not own a table/smart phone/2 or 3 flat screens. It's the "keeping up with Joneses" mentality that makes people feel this way.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2015 13:00     Subject: Parents...let Harvard go.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think the Harvard angst is just a proxy for generalized parental anxiety disorder that afflicts Gen X parents.

Our parents fucked us up with all that latch key/free range parenting stuff, so we're determined to not make the same mistakes.


Disagree. Being a latchkey kid made kids more independent and responsible, mostly, not all. I think the obsession with Ivies is a reflection of people's obsession with materialism and status.


It's a reflection of people's feeling that the pie is shrinking, and if your child doesn't have the right credentials, your child won't get a piece.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2015 12:59     Subject: Parents...let Harvard go.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think the Harvard angst is just a proxy for generalized parental anxiety disorder that afflicts Gen X parents.

Our parents fucked us up with all that latch key/free range parenting stuff, so we're determined to not make the same mistakes.


Disagree. Being a latchkey kid made kids more independent and responsible, mostly, not all. I think the obsession with Ivies is a reflection of people's obsession with materialism and status.


It is that, and a general sense that the U.S. is turning into an economic caste system, kind of like Brazil.


That's where my (admittedly fairly mild) anxiety comes from. I truly don't care about status or wealth, but I get a little antsy about the increasing inequality gap and what it might mean for her future options.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2015 12:03     Subject: Parents...let Harvard go.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think the Harvard angst is just a proxy for generalized parental anxiety disorder that afflicts Gen X parents.

Our parents fucked us up with all that latch key/free range parenting stuff, so we're determined to not make the same mistakes.


Disagree. Being a latchkey kid made kids more independent and responsible, mostly, not all. I think the obsession with Ivies is a reflection of people's obsession with materialism and status.


It is that, and a general sense that the U.S. is turning into an economic caste system, kind of like Brazil.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2015 12:00     Subject: Parents...let Harvard go.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think the Harvard angst is just a proxy for generalized parental anxiety disorder that afflicts Gen X parents.

Our parents fucked us up with all that latch key/free range parenting stuff, so we're determined to not make the same mistakes.


Disagree. Being a latchkey kid made kids more independent and responsible, mostly, not all. I think the obsession with Ivies is a reflection of people's obsession with materialism and status.


I second that. Interesting article, good laugh.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2015 11:57     Subject: Re:Parents...let Harvard go.
It is the rankings that are making everyone crazy. This is just another form of marketing that makes people feel their choices are not good enough.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2015 11:46     Subject: Parents...let Harvard go.
Anonymous wrote:I think the Harvard angst is just a proxy for generalized parental anxiety disorder that afflicts Gen X parents.

Our parents fucked us up with all that latch key/free range parenting stuff, so we're determined to not make the same mistakes.


Disagree. Being a latchkey kid made kids more independent and responsible, mostly, not all. I think the obsession with Ivies is a reflection of people's obsession with materialism and status.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2015 11:42     Subject: Parents...let Harvard go.
I think the Harvard angst is just a proxy for generalized parental anxiety disorder that afflicts Gen X parents.

Our parents fucked us up with all that latch key/free range parenting stuff, so we're determined to not make the same mistakes.
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2015 11:39     Subject: Parents...let Harvard go.
I share this sentiment completely and hope that my son's well rounded personality gives him an edge over all these robots in the making
Anonymous
Post 02/11/2015 10:42     Subject: Parents...let Harvard go.
Sounds on point many of the frantic parents on some forums on this board

http://www.roxandroll.com/2014/11/parents-let-harvard-go.html