1. The authors define (and italicize) the terms microaggressions and trigger warnings and offer a set of examples they think “border on the surreal.” They draw a distinction between what they term “political correctness” of the 1980s and 1990s and what they think is happening today. What, on their view, is that difference and why does it matter for education? What do you make of their ideas in the first section of the article? Be sure to quote from the text in your response.

Life in the 1980’2 and 1990’s was very different than life now. Now we don’t play dodgeball in school because somebody could get hit in the face. There are dozens of new laws created only due to what children of 2000’s and up have done. “Children would be riding bicycles around neighborhoods unsupervised by adults by the age of 8 years old”. Nowadays, children will be chaperoned until the age of 13 or 14.

1. Consider the second section of the article, “How Did We Get Here?” The authors offer a kind of historical/social diagnosis for what they see on campuses. Attempt a brief (2-3 sentence) summary of the section and draw a text-to-self connection to a specific passage (quote). You might agree or disagree with them in your connection – or both, if it seems appropriate.

“In 2014 surveys showed 54% of students feel overwhelmed/anxious in school.” More recently students are reporting to be fragile. Thus, Universities have adapted by treating their students accordingly. However, the argument is, “Is this doing more harm than good?”

1. How might Dweck’s ideas about a “fixed mindset” (or a “growth mindset” if you prefer) relate to ideas in the first three sections of “The Coddling…”? In your response, be sure to quote from both texts and EXPLAIN the relationship you see.

Both Carol Dweck and “The Coddling..” both have intentions of making learning a better environment that is more suitable for the adversities among the world today. Dwecks’ approach is to say “yet” or “you will get there” instead of “you failed”, or,  “next”. Dwecks’ other perspective was the more fixed mindset of trying to get something done and then giving up at instant failure. In “The Coddling..”, “vindictive protectiveness” is mentioned. “It is creating a culture in which everyone must think twice before speaking up, lest they face charges of insensitivity, aggression, or worse.” I do agree with both controversial sides of this argument. I see how weak people are becoming but I also see the need to adapt to that change in people’s emotions. In the 1970’s to 2000’s, people have changed so much because of the diversities and unacceptance to change. People ‘used’ to not be offended by certain comments, sayings, or words because people were not as diverse and life was much simpler.