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An extension of the term, Black Hawks (for the Combat Helicopter of the same name), has been coined for those who cross the line from a mere excess of zeal to unethical behavior such as writing their children's college admission Essay s.


ORIGINS


Although the term seems to have originated and been in use among Schoolteachers as far back as 1991, it only gained wide currency when American College Administrator s began using it in the early 2000s as the Millennial Generation began reaching college age. Their late-wave Baby-boomer parents in turn earned notoriety for practices such as calling their children each morning to wake them up for class and complaining to their Professor s about grades the children had received. Some of these parents had, in fact, chosen the child's college, and hired Consultant s to help fine-tune the application process.


EXPLANATIONS


The rise of the .), retrieved May 1, 2006. Parents, for their part, point to rising college Tuition s, saying they are just protecting their Investment or acting like any other Consumer . Newer federal laws, such as the Family Educational Rights And Privacy Act (FERPA), have also recognized the importance of family in the educational process.

The changing nature of college in the United States may also play a role as well. Higher education is no longer the luxury it once was.

  • It is now a requirement for almost any job, and available to a greater portion of the population.


  • A greater portion of students live at home either during college or afterwards.


  • The Drinking Age has not only been raised to 21 in every state but enforced vigorously in many of them.


  • A simple Bachelor's Degree sufficient qualification for a growing number of careers, either.


Thus, college in America is no longer seen as the gateway to Adulthood and more as an extension of High School .

Some parents have formed an organization, College Parents Of America , to lobby for their interests.


BEYOND COLLEGE


As these students graduate and move on to the job market, personnel and human resources departments are becoming acquainted with the phenomenon as well. Some have reported that parents have begun intruding on salary negotiations, and in one case showing up for a job ''; retrieved May 1, 2006..


HISTORICAL PRECEDENT


While the phenomenon may seem new, it is in fact not. When Douglas MacArthur began his studies at West Point in 1898, his mother moved to be right outside the academy's gates and kept a close eye on her son.


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