Self-Esteem Is Earned Through Achievement

Re “An Incredible Self-Delusion,” editorial, Dec. 17: The national campaign to instill self-esteem in children was a stupid idea to begin with. Children build their own self-esteem by doing well at school and in developing relationships with other children and adults in social settings. Encouragement from family members, teachers and friends is an important part in developing self-respect, but it sure isn’t something that ought to be pushed at the expense of math or the study of languages and the sciences.

Self-esteem is easier to teach, however, so the feel-goodies and teachers pushed the idea at the American public with the premise that all children would grow a warm-fuzzy feeling like the glow from a candle. Obviously, that idea has worked only too well, except that the feeling doesn’t last after graduation -- deserved or not -- from high school, as reality sets in. Children who do not do well academically are definitely not going to feel good about themselves after a hard day of hitting the bricks looking for employment.

Joe Doremire

Bakersfield

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When I would ask my mother if I was pretty, she would always say, “Pretty is as pretty does.” She was not going to aid her daughter in becoming too puffed up about herself! Today it is common to hear parents tell their children that they are the brightest, smartest, best-looking children in the whole world. We have swaggering, impolite, out-of-control children demanding that they get “respect” for just being. Where is the teaching that you get respect when you earn respect?

Alison Agins

Corona

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The editorial makes a connection between failure of our students in math and the way our educational system rewards mediocrity. Let me suggest the problem is far more endemic -- witness President Bush bestowing medals on George J. Tenet, Gen. Tommy Franks and L. Paul Bremer III for their outstanding performance with regard to Iraq!

Robert L. Gilbert

Glendora