In the past, misbehaving at school meant humiliating punishments like standing in the corner or wearing a dunce cap. Trouble at school paled in comparison to the consequences awaiting at home. Failing a class earned you an unmistakable ‘F’ for failure. Beyond academics, school taught a range of lessons about social dynamics—how to get along with others and navigate a world where not everyone was a friend. What we now call bullying was once just playground antics. Miss an assignment? You got a zero—no second chances, no make-up work, no extra credit. Teachers set expectations, and students were expected to meet them or face the consequences, which often included a stern reprimand or even a “butt-whooping” at home.
Shifting Standards in Modern Education
Fast forward to today. Teachers rarely fail students, offering countless opportunities to improve grades. If students struggle during the regular school year, they can attend summer school or alternative programs designed to push them through the system. Being picked on by a classmate often leads to parents filing lawsuits or involving school staff. Academic performance has little bearing on college admission, as financial factors take precedence for many families. Schools close when temperatures are too hot or cold, and outdoor play is restricted if conditions are deemed uncomfortable. School lunches face scrutiny by school systems, and if one child has a better lunch than another, schools may provide an equal option to ensure “fairness.” Educators often prioritize students’ feelings, emotions, and special needs over educational content. The entire scholastic atmosphere resembles a grading curve, striving to make everything as fair and equitable as possible.
Accountability is scarce. Parents often side with their children over school administrators, making excuses for their behavior. Teachers face intimidation from parents regularly. Disciplinary measures require extensive planning, interventions, and meetings—so much so that by the time a child is disciplined, they may have forgotten their offense. Schools prioritize political correctness, creating an environment devoid of the real-world challenges that shape both good and bad days. Participation medals are common, and celebrating high achievers is discouraged to avoid making others feel inadequate. Instead, we pat heads and pretend everything is equal, fair, and pleasant.
What happens when these entitled children, shielded from discomfort and handed everything they need, enter the real world? They face real jobs, landlords, and consequences for their actions. Are teachers to blame? Likely not. The fault lies with the “smart people” at the top of school systems—board members who set curricula and policies. Perhaps these decision-makers, once picked on or overlooked themselves, are undermining children’s ability to thrive in the real world.
Today’s children are unprepared for reality. Schools emphasize political correctness, cordiality, and suppressing conflict to avoid making waves. Kids learn to avoid giving anyone a reason to dislike them, but they gain little understanding of real-life challenges. When they face disagreements, demanding bosses, or authority figures as adults, they lack the skills to cope and carry a sense of entitlement. Who will bail them out? Who will ensure their neighbor doesn’t have a better car?
This issue extends beyond leniency in schools. The fundamental purpose of education is lost in overregulation. Children have little to strive for. When a student works hard to earn first place but sees those who barely tried receive similar rewards, their drive to excel diminishes. Why bother? When a child skips homework or fails a class and faces no real consequences—only more chances to succeed to make the school look good—where is the incentive to meet expectations? They can always try again later or receive special accommodations. Without fear of parental consequences or concern for their actions’ ramifications, where does their moral compass point?
The blame doesn’t rest solely with schools. A broader shift in parenting and societal attitudes fosters entitlement in children, reinforced by schools, sports programs, and often at home. The consequences are evident. In the United States, where over half the population relies on government entitlement programs, the lack of discipline and accountability is clear. By shielding youth from life’s harsh realities, we stifle their potential and cheat them out of true success.
