I wholeheartedly agree, learning coping strategies and resilience is very important for growing up to be happy and capable! But I don't think the way you've framed it here is all that healthy, and frankly I think it borders a little on toxic. Perhaps I misread you or its overly simplified and doesn't reflect your more full, nuanced view, but it comes across to me essentially as "Don't coddle people, you gotta toughen them up by letting people be a-holes to each other".
Certainly the merit awards should not be suppressed and all that. But the way to fix that is not the complete opposite, letting school be the battleground of comparison and othering, etc. that it often comes to. I would have really liked to see some more overt appeal to adding coping *skill* curriculum, mental health tools and services (not pathological but supportive), etc. The solution to over-correcting towards "safe space" is not "go back to how it was", it's a third way, a well-considered, measured, and evidence-based approach to raising better humans. We already know the way we've "always" done things is highly problematic.
Thanks for sharing. It's never easy and there'll always be something that can bring you to a new low but avoiding rarely is ever the final or best solution. Think most people naturally learn to cope to varying degrees because "life," but being aware and making an effort to practice coping by facing whatever troubles you when you're ready can be really helpful.
This was something that’s hit me at just the right time. Thanks for writing.
Thanks for reading!
I wholeheartedly agree, learning coping strategies and resilience is very important for growing up to be happy and capable! But I don't think the way you've framed it here is all that healthy, and frankly I think it borders a little on toxic. Perhaps I misread you or its overly simplified and doesn't reflect your more full, nuanced view, but it comes across to me essentially as "Don't coddle people, you gotta toughen them up by letting people be a-holes to each other".
Certainly the merit awards should not be suppressed and all that. But the way to fix that is not the complete opposite, letting school be the battleground of comparison and othering, etc. that it often comes to. I would have really liked to see some more overt appeal to adding coping *skill* curriculum, mental health tools and services (not pathological but supportive), etc. The solution to over-correcting towards "safe space" is not "go back to how it was", it's a third way, a well-considered, measured, and evidence-based approach to raising better humans. We already know the way we've "always" done things is highly problematic.
Your are really a good writer.Keep going!
Its a shame cope has accrued such a negative valence.
Good one Nat!
Thanks for sharing. It's never easy and there'll always be something that can bring you to a new low but avoiding rarely is ever the final or best solution. Think most people naturally learn to cope to varying degrees because "life," but being aware and making an effort to practice coping by facing whatever troubles you when you're ready can be really helpful.