USA Today and Self Esteem

The USA Today ran a story today by Christina Hoff Summers that attacks the notion that children are so fragile that they cannot even withstand the imposition of "harsh" colors. It seems that the teachers and principals of some schools are eliminating red pens because the color red can stress ful and demeaning". At first I thought this must be a bad joke. No well educated teacher or principal would fall for such a ridiculous notion. I was wrong.

The principal of Thaddeus Stevens Elementary School in Pittsburgh advises teachers to us only "pleasant feeling tones". The article goes on to add that Robert Sherman, VP for marketing at Pilot Pen says that "teachers are trying to be positive and reinforcing rather than harsh".

Michael Finn of Papermate approves for "This is a kinder, more gentle education system."

Are children so fragile that they cannot handle the color red? Must we place kids in a plastic bubble that keeps out everything challenging or that they must struggle to overcome? It seems that many educators believe that this is so for there are numerous schools that are eliminating all competitive games such as tag, dodge ball and anything where children choose other kids to be on their side lest someone feel left out.

The principal of the Franklin Elementary School in Santa Monica, CA sent a letter home to parents saying that their children can no longer play tag during lunch recess for "In this game there is a 'victim" or an 'it' which creates a self-esteem issue".

What do you think about this new wave of protectionism? Is this good for kids? Will it prepare them for adulthood and make them stronger? Or will it cause the USA to develop a generation of weaklings who cannot compete in the real world?