Originally written and posted on Feb 3, 2026 by Acton Kennebunkport. See post here
They’re fragile.
They’re anxious.
They need protection — from stress, discomfort, disagreement, and even words.
So schools responded.
They added guardrails.
They softened expectations.
They removed risk.
They tried to make school safe in every possible way.
And yet, something strange happened.
Anxiety and depression didn’t go down.
They skyrocketed.
The Assumption We Never Questioned
In his research on Gen Z, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt noticed something that surprised him — and many of the educators in the room.
When he asked students directly whether his diagnosis was correct — that adults had overprotected them and underestimated their strength — the response was overwhelming.
They agreed.
Again and again, Gen Z students said some version of the same thing:
“Yes. This is happening.”
What shocked Haidt wasn’t student resistance.
It was student clarity.
The adults had assumed fragility.
The students were quietly saying, “Please stop.”
When Protection Becomes a Cage
Well-meaning systems have taught young people a dangerous lesson:
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If something feels uncomfortable, avoid it.
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If something feels offensive, report it.
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If something causes anxiety, someone else should remove it.
Over time, this rewires how young people see themselves.
They don’t learn, “I can handle this.”
They learn, “Someone should handle this for me.”
That’s not resilience.
That’s dependence.
And the data is clear: the more we smooth the road, the less capable students feel when they inevitably encounter real-world friction.
What Students Actually Need
Students don’t need fewer challenges.
They need practice navigating challenge.
They don’t need emotional bubble wrap.
They need:
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Opportunities to disagree respectfully
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Chances to struggle and recover
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Real responsibility with real consequences
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Adults who believe they can rise to the occasion
This is where most traditional systems struggle — because trust feels risky.
But trust is exactly what builds strength.
Why Acton Takes a Different Approach
At Acton Academy, we start from a different assumption:
Children are not fragile. They are antifragile.
That means:
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They grow stronger through challenge
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They gain confidence by doing hard things
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They develop agency by owning their choices
Instead of adults managing every emotional bump, learners are trusted to:
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Solve problems with peers
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Navigate conflict
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Speak honestly and listen carefully
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Reflect, adjust, and try again
Mistakes aren’t emergencies here.
They’re information.
Struggle isn’t failure.
It’s part of the Hero’s Journey.
The Quiet Truth Adults Need to Hear
One of the most powerful moments in Haidt’s lecture came near the end, when he addressed Gen Z directly.
He encouraged students to do something radical:
Tell adults to back off.
Not because adults don’t care — but because care without trust becomes control.
When adults assume fragility, they unintentionally create it.
When adults trust young people with real responsibility, something remarkable happens:
Young people rise.
Preparing Children for the Road Ahead
There’s an old saying that captures this perfectly:
“Prepare the child for the road, not the road for the child.”
The world is complex.
Work is challenging.
Disagreement is unavoidable.
Schools that try to eliminate all discomfort don’t prepare students for life — they delay their encounter with it.
At Acton, we believe the best gift we can give learners is not protection from reality, but confidence in their ability to face it.
A Different Kind of Care
Trust doesn’t mean neglect.
Challenge doesn’t mean cruelty.
It means believing that young people are capable — and acting accordingly.
And perhaps the most hopeful truth of all?
Gen Z already knows this.
They’re not asking us to save them.
They’re asking us to believe in them.
💡 Ready to learn more about how Apollo Academy works? Schedule an intro call here or check out our resources here. You can also find us on Instagram @ApolloAcademyTampa.
Because the future doesn’t need safer kids.
It needs stronger ones.
