Smart Kids Or Good Kids
Illustration★★★★Dr. Laura Schlessinger writes: Living in Los Angeles gives me a lot of time to read bumper stickers in stop-and-go traffic, and I am impressed with the increasing frequency of messages that brag about the car owner’s children: “My child is an honor student at ...” or “My child is on the dean’s list at...” I have yet to see one that says, “My child holds the door open for his elders” or “My daughter doesn’t gossip.” Nope, never see that. It makes me wonder. Is goodness perceived as having little competitive value?
The point
We celebrate children's academic achievements with bumper stickers but rarely honor their good character or courtesy—perhaps reflecting distorted values.
