Disciplinarians claim a stern approach is best, but there’s a lot of evidence to dispute this, says the Observer parenting columnist

You’ve heard the ­terrible news, I’m sure. Our children are pampered. We raise the coddled brats not as stern parents but simpering friends. We flatter their whims and let them bury their heads in screens. We fetishise what they feel, care not for what they learn, and neglect what they need: that good old-fashioned commonsense discipline that raised the great generations of times past.

Inarguably the greatest peddler of this diagnosis is Katharine Birbalsingh, Britain’s Strictest Headmistress™ and co-founder of the Michaela Community School in Wembley, which boasts fastidious adherence to uniforms, timed loo breaks and silent corridors. In an interview with the Times last week, she yet again bemoaned the “­gentle parenting” that is leaving her students ill-equipped for modern life.

Disciplinarians claim a stern approach is best, but there’s a lot of evidence to dispute this, says the Observer parenting columnist

You’ve heard the ­terrible news, I’m sure. Our children are pampered. We raise the coddled brats not as stern parents but simpering friends. We flatter their whims and let them bury their heads in screens. We fetishise what they feel, care not for what they learn, and neglect what they need: that good old-fashioned commonsense discipline that raised the great generations of times past.

Inarguably the greatest peddler of this diagnosis is Katharine Birbalsingh, Britain’s Strictest Headmistress™ and co-founder of the Michaela Community School in Wembley, which boasts fastidious adherence to uniforms, timed loo breaks and silent corridors. In an interview with the Times last week, she yet again bemoaned the “­gentle parenting” that is leaving her students ill-equipped for modern life.

• Furlong equaliser frustrates leaders at home
• Two late goals provide drama at Ewood Park

Leeds’ Championship title charge was checked as they were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw at Elland Road by West Brom. Junior Firpo headed the home side into an early lead but Darnell Furlong equalised with a looping header before the break.

Leeds were denied a sixth straight win but extended their unbeaten league run to 17 matches. West Brom’s winless league run on the road extended to 10 games. Leeds are now eight points clear of Burnley, who sit third and lost at Preston in the FA Cup, while second-placed Sheffield United play at QPR in a 3pm kick-off.

This story will be updated

• Furlong equaliser frustrates leaders at home
• Blades sit three points behind after victory

Leeds’ title charge was checked as they were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by West Brom. Junior Firpo headed the home side into an early lead but Darnell Furlong equalised with a looping header before the break.

The point still extended Leeds’ unbeaten league run to 17 matches as they head towards a Premier League return. Though the West Brom’s manager, Tony Mowbray, later questioned their ability to stay there.

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There’s been another goal at Selhurst Park. Palace are now 3-1 up, Eddie Nketiah getting his fourth goal of the season.

It’s official: Preston are through to the FA Cup quarters for the first time in 59 years. There’s bound to be considerable fallout from the match but, on the field, there’s little doubt the hosts were the dominant team.

• South Africa (181-3) beat England (179) by seven wickets
• England limp out of Champions Trophy with third defeat

Jos Buttler called the Champions Trophy a brutal format before the start of the tournament but in the end it proved mercifully short. Had this been a World Cup, stretched out over weeks to milk even more television money, England could easily have surpassed that bleak title defence in India 18 months ago by way of ignominy.

Instead, it was off to the airport, via the hotel, after this third and final defeat; the first time they have exited a global event without a single group win. South Africa, who topped Group B with a crushing seven-wicket win, were doing the same, even if the farcical schedule – dictated by India having to play all their games in Dubai – meant they did not know whether the gulf state would actually be the scene of their semi-final.