....There are many other facets to the current collapse of childhood. I have touched on the issue only briefly, but one thing is clear, our schools have deteriorated because they must deal with damaged goods. Most responsible for this damage is hospital childbirth; second comes television. Next comes day care, which fosters television and is a result of hospital childbirth. Premature schooling runs fourth. (A fifth must wait a bit for discussion.) And as our damaged children grow up and become the parents and teachers, damage will be the norm, the way of life. We will habituate to damage. Nothing else will be known. How can you miss something you can't even recognize, something you never had?

Summary

This quote suggests that the collapse of childhood can be attributed to various factors, with the main culprits being hospital childbirth and excessive television consumption. The author argues that hospital childbirth leads to damage in children, followed by the negative influence of television. The third factor mentioned is day care, which perpetuates television watching. Finally, premature schooling is listed as the fourth cause. The quote highlights the cyclical nature of the problem, noting that as damaged children grow up and become parents and teachers, the norm will become damaged individuals, perpetuating the cycle. Ultimately, the quote questions how one can miss something they don't recognize or have never experienced.

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