I grew up on Mister Rogers. I loved the guy and his show, and especially the Neighborhood of Make-Believe.
I had no idea he was "evil."
That's right. Evil.
According to a Louisiana State University finance professor -- and some commentators in this YouTube video of news programs -- Fred Rogers ruined a generation of kids, turning them into self-absorbed underachievers with a sense of entitlement (and no work ethic).
How did he do this?
Mister Rogers told kids they were special just for being who they were.
That. Is. So. Twisted.
I mean, c'mon, toddlers should have to earn the right to be told they're wonderful, right?
A suggestion from one of the anti-Rogers brigade: "He should have done us all a favor and said something like, 'Look kid, you've got a lot of room for improvement.'"
Like that kid wouldn't end up on a therapist's couch.
Give me a break.
On the one hand we have Don Chance, a finance professor, who, irked with his college students' attitudes, went public with his ah-ha moment in which "it just hit him" that he could blame it all on Mr. Rogers. Then we have some morning news show hosts who took it a step further.
On the other, we have Fred Rogers: He had a degree in music composition, he was an ordained Presbyterian minister, and he received more than 40 honorary degrees from colleges and universities. In 1968, he was appointed Chairman of the Forum on Mass Media and Child Development of the White House Conference on Youth. In 2002, President George W. Bush presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, in recognition of his contribution to the well-being of children and a career in public television that demonstrates the importance of kindness, compassion, and learning. Rogers earned all kinds of accolades in between.
It's kind of a no-brainer, wouldn't you say?
I wonder what all the haters think of PBS bringing Mister Rogers back (it's started streaming old episodes on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood's specific site and its PBSKids site).
Maybe I shouldn't be so hard on them. After all, it sounds like Professor Chance and those TV show hosts have been doing a lot of "make believing" themselves. Oh well, I guess they'll just blame it all on Mister Rogers.
Do you think Mister Rogers was "evil"? Will you let your kids watch the show online? Do you make your toddler feel that she's special or are you sure to tell her she's got "room for improvement"?
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Comments 14
OMG!! How can you say he destroyed a generation of children. When I heard Mr. Rodgers say you're special, the message I got as a kid was even though I look different and I don't have what others have don't make me any less and yes, I am still special just like the next individual. As a parent today, my children are indeed special. Special doesn't mean you don't work hard or put forth an effort to make a possitive difference in your life or the world. Mr. Rodgers is not here to defend his self on what he really meant. You guys maybe feeding too much into something we as parents should be more responsible for. Society is getting more crazy along with the media and press.
Mr. Rogers is cool. I met him when I was young.
I tell my kids they are special all the time :)
I think bob the tomatoe says that as well; 'Your special, and God loves you very much'
People are just silly sometimes?
Going to college in Pittsburgh, my TV project group all met Mr. Rogers while shooting in the same studio. He was gracious, curious, kind and all the things you'd expect him to be.
I grew up hearing "You're special just the way you are" from him and still recall feeling very comforted by that as a small child....but learned the hard way too soon that I wasn't. (even though I was)
I try every day to help my little girl feel proud of her achievements, and acknowledge her failures with a we'll try it again attitude. I try not to hover. Hopefully, she'll develop her own sense of self worth without the need for a constant stream of outside accolades.( The reward system this yutz seemed to be grousing about. There's a whole generation of kids who think their every utterance deserves some sort of applause and it's got nothing to do with Fred Rogers)
But telling her she's wonderful on a daily basis? Just because? She IS! A 21/2 year old is wonderful just because.
this is so stupid.. as a parent u tell u child they are special and unique in every way and that its not whats on the outside its what on the inside.. and for people to say its evil to tell a child their special.. whats wrong with that. every child is special and unique. i grew up with my parents and saying that and i turned fine. i work hard and college educated and do not feel i am entitled to anything. i work for what i get. i think people blow things way out of proportion. and children need to feel special and loved. so they will turn out ok. of course displine is needed. but not coldness. i think this is stupid.
I grew up in Pittsburgh and absolutely adored Mr. Rogers. He was a Pittsburgh staple and someone we're very proud of. So now I'm boycotting both Louisana and finance in general.
Mr. Rogers is awesome! I don't use the "special" comment but I do acknowlegde my kids when they are behaving well, sharing, using good manners, etc. I think all the 'haters' are just afraid of diversity which I think was Mr. Rogers main point.
Hmmm it's odd how they took the term 'You're special' and made it imply 'You're Perfect'. What idiots.
I love Mr. Rogers and was so upset when they took him off of PBS, I would love to see his show come back to t.v.
Mr. Rogers is not evil, and I would let my children watch him if only they would air his shows again. I agree all children are special and through encouragement such as this they learn to respect themselves and gain confidence. The man who made this comment should have done his homework about Mr. Roger's life before making such an accusation he would be suprised what a role model and outstanding person the guy was and see all he has done throughtout his life before his death in Feb. 2003 they even set up a memorial in his honor! Why would they do that for someone who was "evil"?
Wow good job Mr. Chance on completely reducing a complex issue into "Blame the bad tv man!". It doesn't take much intelligence to realize that how a generation is shaped is from a variety of things including events happening in their lifetime(from small personal ones to worldwide ones), the economy they grow up in, leaders, technology, trends etc. It's moron's like this that decide to push the blame on the easiest target instead of doing actual work that slows down the progress to find the real root of the problem.
To the questions at the end of the article: No I do not think Mr. Rogers was a evil man. In fact I think he was a very good person. And yes I would let my son watch Mr. Rogers. All children are told they are special in some way shape or form(heck just giving them a hug and saying I love you is showing them they are special to you). Yet they grow up just fine.
lololololololol. This is toooooo funny.