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I ditto Paula's comments as I have contributed to "I am special" mentality versus we all are unique and need to share our gifts and make a difference becasue it is the just, fair, honest and care giving (versus care taking) thing to do.

I think he's right on! Children today feel that they are special because we (mistakenly) give them kudos for every little thing so that no one 'feels badly.'

I am sad to admit that I am of the generation who used the outward motivation of praise, rewards and "your special" to get children to do what they should have been encouraged to do from internal motivation. All those 101 ways to praise your child, your special and good job external doggy bones and the reward method of do this and we will go buy you a toy, created a generation of people who perform only for the prize or choose not to even try unless there is something in it for them. I am sorry to be part of the generation who contributed to the current age of entitlement which makes people unable to see beyond themselves.
I think the speech was an attempt to get a new generation to think and to choose what they do because it is right and because it makes a difference. I do not think most people understand that if we do everything for our children they do not learn to think or solve problems for themselves. If we raise them on a diet of external motivation they will never be people of character whose world is bigger than themselves.

Thank you for including this in the Exchange newsletter. I cannot agree with the speaker more. Over the past 25 years I have experienced the great change in young adults and young children. The sense of entitlement and demand that "someone do this for me" has grown to epidemic proportions. Thank you to Dr. McCullough for your words. Please keep teaching children and, perhaps, teach parents and teachers.

UPDATE: The original link to David McCullough, Jr.'s speech has been removed from YouTube by the user. We have updated the link on our website. Here you can read the full text of the speech and, if you scroll down, you can also view the video.

http://www.theswellesleyreport.com/2012/06/wellesley-high-grads-told-youre-not-special/