La recuperación de la autoridad

José Antonio Marina tackles a topic which is central for families and schools: authority. But what authority? The permissive education practised in recent times has produced a situation in which children refuse both orders and suggestions. It has been forgotten that, to be happy, one must be aware that some of ones desires will be frustrated, and living with that knowledge is an essential part of human life. Authoritarian education, as seen in the dictum "it's like that because I say so" has proved ineffective and negative. The author calls for responsible authority. It is better to obey because of conviction than coercion. It is exactly that conviction which gives children the ability to solve their problems.