Education!

Education!

Education!

Aleid Truijens

What's the matter with parents these days? Raising children - generations before us have done it, by trial and error. Feed your children, send them to school en nurture it with a lot of love and it will grow up automatically. Almost automatically. It helps to set a good example and if you tone down your sky-high expectations.

Raising children has become an immense task for most parents. And it can easily go horribly wrong. The huge number of well meant tips from experts doesn't lessen the insecurity of the parents. The number of children with psychological disorders like ADHD, PDD-NOS and Asperger, have risen epidemically.

Are we raising vulnerable and frightened parents with this insecurity? Teachers, neighbors, grandparents and politicians see parents failing, they need to be more involved with their teenagers. But both parents have to work, keep their marriage fresh and take care of their own demented parents. They could use some moral and practical support.

Bringing up a new generation is not just a responsibility for the parents, but for all adults in a society. This is what Volkskrant columnist Aleid Truijens is saying in her well documented plea.

'Her tone is pleasant and never pedantic and it makes this book worth reading.' - Trouw

'Read Aleid Truijens today. In fact read her every day!' - Sylvia Witteman

'Read Education! A new view on an ancient profession by Aleid Truijens. Sharp where necessary, mild where possible.' - Manon Uphoff

'Her fresh view on the recent developments in our society is undeniably worth reading.' - Nederlands Dagblad

'Aleid Truijens writes with a contagious and humoristic pen. This is no manual for the right way for raising children, rather a philosophical view on the contemporary parenting practices. Commented with a fresh perspective and humor. Refreshing to read that most parents aren't that bad at all with their children.' - Noordhollands Dagblad ****

'Sympathetic about her arguments is that Truijens draws from her own experiences and isn't shy with her own peculiarities as a parent. Education! is a very comforting book.' - HP/De Tijd