I Am A Little Concerned About Today’s High School Students. Should I Be?
The topics for most of my blogs come from either the wacky way I look at things, contacts in the industry, readers of the blog or situations that happen to me that I think are a worthwhile topic. Today’s posting is no different.
On most Sunday mornings I will go to CVS and buy a few things including the Sunday newspaper. On this day I was just picking up two newspapers and the total amount owed would be $3.00. As I was checking out I mentioned to the checkout girl (who was dressed very presentably and was probably around 17) that I had a CVS reward card and I wanted to use it. She said the items aren’t on sale so it didn’t matter and we didn’t need to use it…which she is 100% right. Another benefit of the CVS rewards card is a 2% rebate on all purchases done in the quarter. When I said that to the clerk, she looked at me and said it isn’t much money at all–it’s only sixty cents. My only answer to her was a surprised “what?” When I said actually it really is six cents not sixty, not only did she look at me as if I had three 3 heads, she didn’t believe me and confidently said she was right.
I have had a few other things happen that were similar but rather than communicate those stories, the main message is I am concerned - in fact very concerned!
- What are kids learning today in high school?
- Are there too many distractions in the classroom like cell phones and text messaging?
- Are teachers as good as they used to be?
- Is the emphasis on standardized testing limiting what they learn?
In my opinion I just don’t think the kids of today are getting a great education. I am not sure if it is because computers and calculators make it so easy that they can rely on them for everything or if the kids of today’s generation don’t want to work as hard as their parents or grandparents.
I don’t know what it is but it does bother me and I hope we find some answers soon.
- Does it bother you?
- What do you think?
I look forward to hearing your comments and perspective.
June 11th, 2008 at 8:57 am
Being the next door neighbor of twin 14 year old girls and a 17 year old girl, this plagues me everyday! They want the easy way out all of the time, they are constantly texting instead of studying… Just Monday they had to turn in a synopsis on the first 4 chapters of one of their summer reading books in order to take a trip to Six Flags. One of the twins completely plagiarized using http://www.bookrags.com. it took her more time to “not do the work” than it would have to just read the chapters and turn in the report.
Furthermore, we can blame the teachers all day, and granted i do believe not as good as they used to be. It’s a hard position with little pay. Most teachers spend half the day babysitting and disciplining children instead of teaching. However, it’s the parents that need to take the blame. The parents are the ones setting the examples and the standards. The more involved the parent is (which i know can be extremely challenging - you would think we were killing them with the 4 chapter summary assignment) the better the kid does in school. Well, at least that is my opinion. Also, being involved doesn’t mean doing the work. it means listening, going over assignments, and giving direction. It’s like being a good manager!
June 11th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
I think judging a generation based on one clerks ability to do simple math may be reaching a little. I myself have trouble calculating the tip when I go out to eat and yet I made it all the way to Calc II and Differential Equations II. I suppose I did get a little dependent on my graphing calculator though… Is that really such a bad thing?
June 12th, 2008 at 6:54 am
Jessi,
Appreciate your comments. I would agree that I was reaching a little bit and no it isn’t bad that you need/depend on your graphic calculator. My point was really that I am concerned that there are so many distractions and other things that kids can use as tools to help them get through a school year. I believe that hurts their ability to learn.
Thanks again.
Merrill
June 12th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Ugh.
kath
The math issue aside - what about the atrocious lack of respect for the customer?
It’s not just that the math is missing, but manners as well.
I rarely get a “thank you” anywhere despite the fact that i make it a point to say thank you to the person helping/serving/waiting on me. In fact, whenever I do get a “thank you”, i make sure to comment on it, letting the cashier/server know that i appreciate their attitude toward their customers.
To me, there seems to be a prevailing sense of entitlement, which does not bode well at all for companies in need of people who know how to take care of customers.
I could go on FOREVER about this very topic and how it’s no wonder that all kinds of customer service jobs are going overseas (would you rather be able to understand the person who is not helping at all or not?), but I’ll spare you and say thanks for bringing it up Merrill. Whenever I bring it up I feel like a cranky old lady (”in my day….”)
June 12th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Kath,
I do agree customer service appears to be a lost cause in most spots. A thank you is hard to come by thats for sure. I wish I knew why that is and what caused it. This way we could all work hard to find ways to change it. American Airlines lost my luggage and all of their words were geared to “it was your fault ” for checking luggage with us. If you read the fine print it says don’t check luggage with important items in it for fear that the luggage might not arrive on time. I was shocked a customer service person said that too me.
Amazing.
Thanks again.
Merrill
June 12th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Merrill,
It’s amazing to me not only the lack of education but the sense of entitlement these young kids ofter have. I live across the street from a public park in a very nice up scale neighborhood in Portland, OR called Hillsdale, and every once in a while you will see kids part out there and drink. Most of the time I never catch them and am forced to clean up their mess the next day or when I return from out of town.
Well last Sunday night about 1:30 in the morning about 12 of these kids decided to through a party in the middle of the street in front of the park entrance blasting music and whootin and hollering, well I woke up, my 4 year old daughter woke up, my wife woke up and half the neighborhood woke up.
Rather than address the situation half of my neighbors blared their spot lights on, and rolled their blinds tight.
I’m a stubborn former US Marine… so I did what I do best confronted them, and they asked me what the big deal was… oh man I sat there dumbfounded for a second and said it’s 1:30 in the morning you knuckle head and I live here!
These kids are between the ages of 16-19 and the look on their face was of pure disgust like how dare I interrupt them.
Not mention the part where they go in the park to do their thing, so when I see that at tables being sneaky I sit with them all talk to them.
I get involved - and it seems to bug them and they go other places… hmmm. Imagine an adult involving themselves.
How crazy is that? The lack of respect kids have is insane. I mean I was young too - but the attitude is something else.
Best,
Eric Bell
June 13th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Eric,
Part of me just can’t believe the way that kids react today. Some (not all) look at you with this look like it is you that is messed up and they are normal. That staying out until 1:30am partying and blaring music is OK and you should be OK with it….. very foolish to say the least.
I hope your community is able to stop them real soon.
Good luck.
Merrill
June 13th, 2008 at 11:10 am
I personally believe that what has happened with the kids of this generation is quite simple: Parents are so busy with their careers and the necessity of dual household income, etc, that the kids are almost secondary. I am more appalled by how I see parents treat their kids (as if they were less important to them than their shiny new car) than I am by how the kids are naturally growing up with a sense of entitlement. Time and time again I see my highly educated ‘friends’ over-indulge their children, not set boundaries (or have their be consequences), and over-all simply ‘give in’ because, let’s face it, sometimes it’s just easier. Not better. Not good for the long-term. Just easier for the short term. Is it really any wonder? How many parents have their kids myspace passwords and check the site? Where are these parents of the kids who are out until all hours of the night? I am not saying that I’m a perfect parent because nobody is, but I have 4 children ranging from 7 to 23 years old, and the most important responsibilities I feel I have are to TALK to them every day about what’s going on in their lives, communicate monthly with all of their teachers, and to know where they are at all times. The education is such that parents HAVE to be involved and be a part of the learning process. There are simply not enough resources in most of the schools and the teachers are over-whelmed. Interestingly, I personally believe that it’s the kids who are ‘good’ who are often most over-looked. The kids that demand attention through negative behavior are impossible to ignore. However, if there’s a change in the performance of a child who doesn’t cause issues, it’s easy for them to slip through the cracks in times of crisis. I could go on and on about this one, but I’ll wrap it by stating that in terms of customer service, particularly with the younger generation, I’ve always found that the best way I can try to positively impact how I am treated, is by treating others well.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:01 am
I don’t think it’s necessarily an issue of kids, Merrill. Everything you and other posters have described - lack of customer service, feeling of entitlement, etc . . .what are we describing here? Sounds to me like we’re describing the United States, not just the sub-section that happens to be attending High School.
As a country, we are notorious in looking for the easy way out. When is the last time you or anyone you know has tried to lose 10 lbs in 3 days by some quick fix, or done plastic surgery, or paid someone to do something they could have done themselves. Not convinced yet - turn on the TV, and take a look at the ads you see, quoting such promises as “quicker,”"easier,” and often even the terms like “better” and “new and improved” translate into being either quicker or easier. This is the state in which we live. Have a problem? Take a pill. Pill didn’t work - have surgery.
I don’t know if it’s really much different in other countries, but from speaking with people who have grown up outside the US, it seems to be worse here.
I think for the most part, people lose sight of the fact that it’s the journey that causes you to grow - not the attaining of the goal. While attaining the goal is nice, if you didn’t have to do any work to get there, then all you have accomplished is getting some bragging rights - and for what? For buying a quick-fix solution?
All of this speaks more to the entitlement issue brought up by Eric. As far as your specific comments, I think you are judging a little too much based on one little girl who wasn’t open-minded enough to see that she was wrong. However, I can’t say that at any CVS or Walgreen’s-type store that I’ve gone too, that I’ve experienced in over-abundance of customer service - because that’s not what they hire for, or train for. Compare that to a Starbucks or a McDonalds, where they’re trained for that and hired for that, I’m sure you’d have a much different experience, regardless of whether the person helping you was 18 or 80.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:07 am
I don’t know if it’s kids or schools, but when I see a story like this, I just have to shake my head and wonder where did we as a society go wrong?
http://www.greenwichtime.com/aroundthestate/ci_9505935
We happened to have met this young lady this weekend and she seemed to be the kind of kid that most parents would want to call their own. Now, I’d like to meet the school administrators, but I’m pretty sure that I’d want nothing to do with them.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Matt,
I just read the story - amazing they would treat her like that. In the story it mentions that her Uncle did something similar 38 years ago and was applauded - this time not so much!
It’s very unfortunate that so much has changed.
Thanks for sharing.
Merrill
June 16th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
It’s very scary, Merrill.
I see it up the High School when I substitute teach every once in awhile.
The students are allowed to listen to their iPODS….so after a test, they
put them on, and I can assure you, they tune out of school for the rest of
the class…and most of the day.
The students read a book, take a test on “what happened next” ..it’s all busy work and I don’t see what they are learning; no thought provoking discussion here.
What comes with the entitlement is the lack of responsibility I see there.
And sadly I think it started with our generation wanting to give so much to
our children which is a good thing, but it took away their sense of responsibility to themselves and to their families. In my day…my brothers and sisters had chores they were responsible for every week to keep our household humming along. Now the kids are running every Saturday and Sunday from soccer practice to baseball games to piano practice, etc. ….and when the kids come home they play….so they don’t have any chores they must fit in too. They have so much done for them, they don’t know how to manage their time at all. I really worry about the over-scheduled life these kids have.
How do parents find a balance for their kids? It is really sad to see how tired these kids are in school; they can barely stay awake. They just want to get through it.
Your question reminds me of when I watch Jay Leno’s “Jaywalking”….and 90% of the “kids” he asks questions of have NO sense of geography or history, and I scream at the TV asking “What are they teaching in school these days?”