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Adrian Gaty's avatar

My apologies, I realized I forgot to link the promised article about kindergarten’s origins, here it is:

“ Peabody depicts a world with not even a hint of the early childhood academics my patients know. After hymns and musical games, the main tasks of each day are playing more games, doing gymnastics, and dancing. No state standards to be met here, unless the state has legislated a standard for totally awesome fun.”

https://thefederalist.com/2022/05/19/are-schools-contributing-to-skyrocketing-adhd-diagnoses-im-a-pediatrician-and-i-think-so/

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littleoldMDme's avatar

Well said! Historically, Institutions tend to fail because of strategic incompetence, poor leadership or management, and the like. When I think about what has happened to the AAP and the AMA in recent years, these incompetencies combined with a movement away from their telos’ seem to be the culprit. It is neither stupidity or sloth, but arrogance and ideological capture that has created their demise. Oh sure, they still exist, moving big piles of money around, but they no longer serve their mission.

I don’t treat children, but when the AAP recommended masking soccer players during the pandemic, I realized what a clown show this institution was. Though arbitrary, with nary an evidenced based footnote, schools adopted this idiotic approach. Watching those kids sucking air through their masks on an open field looked more like child abuse than protection. I understand how fear can drive us in the wrong direction, but this looked like malfeasance. I now read most AAP recommendations with suspicion and contempt, which is what a radical political activist organization that pretends its duty is to the health of children deserves.

As physicians, we should hasten the demise of these institutions, and form new ones in their stead, refocusing on our true mission to our profession and our patients.

As a civilized society, the measure of harms we are perpetrating on our children with inappropriate exposure to adult themes (for the affirmation of those adults no less!), and shifting the ground under them for our own comfort as you mentioned, are signs of a culture in decay. It is time lock arms and take it back.

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