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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Will the gender pay gap ever disappear? Ashland Recycling Center hits quarter-century Louie’s Restaurant hosts fourth annual Equal Pay Day Police Reports 10 things to know for Friday Education Official hopeful whooping cough case at John Muir contained Bracing for Common Core Ashland Kiwanis recognize Lillian Huang Chautauqua series brings author Jane Hamilton to Ashland Ashland Runs on Volunteers: OLLI classes pay dividends in joy of teaching, learning Environment Ashland Fire & Rescue Alarm Box: There are good fires and there are bad fires Lots to celebrate at SOU Arbor Day rites Business Louie’s Restaurant hosts fourth annual Equal Pay Day Chamber celebrates innovation in the food, wine and beer industries Cars We Remember: 1964 Olds F-85 owner seeks information Ride & Drive: 2015 Honda Odyssey Silvio Calabi: Passat 1.8T Sport is satisfyingly rational Politics and elections Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Kent Bush: Clinton 2.0 is neither new nor improved Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Council wants changes to agreement with ODOT for I-5 welcome center Arthur I. Cyr: Afghanistan progress is uneven but undeniable State News Oregon lawmakers begin minimum wage debate Runners to follow historic salmon migration path Nation - World Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries Death Notices Death Notices Death Notices Anna Mae Hassell Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories SOU swept, but gets help in playoff race Grizz softball team keeps rolling For Raiders, a homecoming Sports & Bacon: So I didn’t fill out any brackets... It's not getting any easier High school SOU swept, but gets help in playoff race Grizz softball team keeps rolling AHS girls edge Roseburg Raiders remain No. 1 in spring poll Grizzlies blow away Eagles Southern Oregon University SOU swept, but gets help in playoff race For Raiders, a homecoming Raiders remain No. 1 in spring poll Grizzlies blow away Eagles Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls Voices Latest Stories Guest Opinion: Allegations unfair to Dr. Tomashefsky Herb Rothschild Jr.: Spreading the risk of vaccination Matthew T. Mangino: Mass incarceration enters the national consciousness Our View: Help fill empty bowls in Ashland Jeffrey Gillespie: Buying the presidency Editorial Our View: Help fill empty bowls in Ashland Our View: Jackson County should say yes to Circle of Teran rehab request Our View: New cat on the block in Ashland Our View: Ashland High benefits as cycle racing club gets rolling Our View: Ashland is prepared, Firewise Letters Letters to the Editor, April 14 Letters to the Editor, April 13 Letters to the Editor, April 11 Letters to the Editor, April 8 Letters to the Editor, April 7 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Allegations unfair to Dr. Tomashefsky Guest Opinion: Fremont cottonwood is not a hazard Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Columns Guest Opinion: Allegations unfair to Dr. Tomashefsky Herb Rothschild Jr.: Spreading the risk of vaccination Matthew T. Mangino: Mass incarceration enters the national consciousness Jeffrey Gillespie: Buying the presidency Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Go to the poetry reading at the library on Sunday Community blog: Poems for parenting A tale of two plays at OSF Joanne Rand at the Unitarian Fellowship Five picks for entertainment this week Theater Ticket Availability Ticket Availability A tale of two plays at OSF Ashland New Plays Festival chooses new artistic director Backstage: 'Poof: Something that wasn’t there is there' Music On TV: Your guide to the Academy of Country Music Awards The Farr Side: Intriguing time on the Hot 100 Joanne Rand at the Unitarian Fellowship The Farr Side: Is Kelly Clarkson’s weight truly news?  Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival Visual Art More films, excitement than ever for AIFF Ashland's First Friday Art Walk Movies Movie review: Based-on-fact ‘True Story’ asks, ‘Who’s fooling who?’ Movie review: Lots of monkey business in ‘Monkey Kingdom’ Russell Crowe discusses WWI and being a first-time director 'Cinderella' revisited is stunning, magical Ben Steelman: Big-screen showings to mark anniversary of ‘Sound of Music’ Food and Drink Business profile: Couple opens second Pita Pit in Ashland Tot owners buy Playwright, hire Amuse chef Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories App Finder: Best Earth Day apps Health Watch: How to avoid the dreaded weight-loss plateau Looking Up: Watching for the next big comet Adelante! Gallery showcases Zenga Official hopeful whooping cough case at John Muir contained Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Guest Opinion: Allegations unfair to Dr. Tomashefsky ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: Spreading the risk of vaccination ... Ticket Availability ... Guest Opinion: Allegations unfair to Dr. Tomashefsky ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: Spreading the risk of vaccination ... Ticket Availability ... Dr. Elaine Heffner: Children and inequality Comment By Dr. Elaine Heffner More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Dr. Elaine Heffner More Content Now Posted Mar. 17, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Dr. Elaine Heffner More Content Now Posted Mar. 17, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Economic inequality has become a hot topic these days. Blame about causes and solutions offered are apportioned in line with the different points of view of those commenting. One voice receiving much attention at the moment is that of Robert Putnam, a Harvard political scientist. In his new book, “Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis,” he discusses the problem through the lens of changes in his hometown of Port Clinton, Ohio, from the 1950s to today. Putnam makes his point that there is a growing gap between rich kids and poor kids through stories about children and families who were his contemporaries as compared to those who live there now. The message seems to be that there had been greater opportunity in the past for children to move beyond their family’s economic and educational status. The popular idea of the American Dream is that children could do better than their parents in all areas, an opportunity that is no longer there. Putnam has been criticized for his nostalgia about earlier times which does not give recognition to the kinds of public policy that included discriminatory housing and employment practices. The American Dream was not, in fact, available to all Americans. Nostalgia for and idealization of earlier times appears to be part of different attempts at solving current problems. But looking at the past through rose-colored glasses sometimes interferes with an ability to see clearly the basis for the problems of the present. Putnam deplores the loss of a sense of community arguing that Americans used to care about other people’s kids and now they only care about their own kids, and proposes changes in family structure, parenting, school and community. Parenting always seems to be a handy target in causes to blame for social problems. One could argue that parents have to make their own kids their primary concern given the failures of other institutions, such as schools, and the absence of support systems in the form of child care for today’s working parents. The importance of parents’ focus on their own children was recently brought home to me. I was asked to observe a child in an after school group because of complaints from her regular school teacher that she doesn’t listen and do what she is told, that she was instructed to put something away and didn’t respond. By chance a baby sitter present reported to the mother what had really happened. The child’s spot had been used by another child and she was unsure whether to solve the problem by using someone else’s spot. Observing the child in another setting it seemed likely that, while actually bright and responsive, she may have some difficulty with processing and speaking up in the situation. Apparently, there are 24 children in the class with a large group of boys who are difficult to manage. It was the mother’s investigation of the situation and knowledge of her own child that enabled her to pursue the situation further and prevent destructive labeling of her daughter. This is a small example of how parents can and do make a difference. But in discussing the larger social problem of inequality, larger public policy solutions need to be the focus. In this case, sufficient funds for education to allow for smaller classes and well trained teachers. Individual parents may have the time and the will to fight for social changes that will improve opportunities for all children. But in the current situation, parents are left to fight for their own children. Elaine Heffner, LCSW, Ed.D., has written for Parents Magazine, Fox.com, Redbook, Disney online and PBS Parents, as well as other publications. She has appeared on PBS, ABC, Fox TV and other networks. Dr. Heffner is the author of “Goodenoughmothering: The Best of the Blog,” as well as “Mothering: The Emotional Experience of Motherhood after Freud and Feminism.” She is a psychotherapist and parent educator in private practice, as well as a senior lecturer of education in psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College. Dr. Heffner was a co-founder and served as director of the Nursery School Treatment Center at Payne Whitney Clinic, New York Hospital. And she blogs at goodenoughmothering.com. By Dr. Elaine Heffner More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Dr. Elaine Heffner More Content Now Posted Mar. 17, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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