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"I am very concerned about the growing trend toward
institutionalizing children as soon as possible and
keeping them institutionalized as long as possible.
This is an alarming trend, and, as a teacher, I see
its negative results every day—kids who don't know
who they are!
These kids are suffering from school fatigue at 12 and
13. By the time I get them in grade 9, a good half
have lost all interest in learning. They are tired of
jumping through hoops. They have been robbed of their
childhoods and they know it. The earlier you start
kids in any kind of institutional process, the sooner
they'll burn out and lose all interest in that
process.
We are going to reap a bitter harvest from a
generation of
over-institutionalized, over-programmed kids. I
believe the rising incidence of depression and
substance abuse in later adolescence is, in part, the
product of kids growing up over-stressed and
under-nurtured by state-run institutions that claim to
serve their needs."
Michael Reist is head of the English department at
Robert F. Hall Catholic Secondary School in Caledon
East, Ontario. He has taught high school English for
25 years.
Kids First has no political or religious affiliation and seeks to
work with all parties and all interests to seek equality for all families.
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