Authority Quote by Kenneth Keniston
“Today's parents have little authority over those others with whom they share the task of raising their children. On the contrary,most parents deal with those others from a position of inferiority or helplessness. Teacher, doctors, social workers, or television producers possess more status than most parents… As a result, the parent today isa maestro trying to conduct an orchestra of players who have never met and who play from a multitude of different scores, each in a notation the conductor cannot read.”
About This Quote
Parents must navigate child‑rearing alongside many professionals who often hold more social status, making parental authority feel diminished.
In simple terms: Parents share child‑rearing with higher‑status professionals, reducing their authority.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and assert parental influence despite external expertise.
Themes
parenting
authority
collaboration
social hierarchy
communication
Mood
frustrated
hopeful
determined
Type
advice
reflective
practical
When to use this quote
- family meetings
- school conferences
- healthcare decisions
- media consumption
- community events
Key Concepts
power dynamics
role negotiation
interdisciplinary coordination
Questions to Reflect On
- How can parents maintain influence without formal power?
- What strategies build mutual respect among caregivers?
A Different Perspective
Parents may lack formal authority, leading to dependence on others’ judgments.
![“There's very little in the substance of [THE LADY IN THE VAN] which is not fact though some adjustments have had to be made. Over the years Miss Shepherd was visited by a succession of social workers so the character in the play is a composite figure. . . . A composite too are the neighbours…” quote by Alan Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3e7/alan-bennett-1922_adjustment_there-s-very-little-in-the-substance-of_239144.jpg)
![“The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the formulas of nations at war, where any heinousness is justified on the grounds that the enemy is either an inferior [part of the] species or…” quote by Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/895/kate-millett-7301_accompany_the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imp_8896.jpg)