What's Wrong with These Kids Today?

I saw a quote by Steve Garvey the other day that read something to the effect of "the problem with ball players today is that they care more about the name on the back of the jersey instead of the one on the front." I began to reflect on this and all the times I have ever been asked "whats wrong with these kids today?" came rushing back to mind. Since I have been an educator I feel that the approach used by kids today is so off the mark. I can't decide if I should rebel against this or work with the change.

Neil Howe and William Strauss (2003) have done some work in this field and they say of millennials, "They have always been treated as special and important. This generation of children has been the most wanted. Every milestone was marked with celebrations and praise. They may carry a sense of entitlement about them and have an expectation of frequent positive feedback. It’s been instilled in them that they are vital to the nation and to their parents’ sense of purpose. They feel they are here to solve world problems that older generations have failed to solve. They may claim they want privacy, but they crave attention." This is a pretty heavy idea but if you think about it it makes sense. We as a society have groomed these kids to be this way yet we complain about the result.

How about this thought, "Highly protected as children. Grew up in a time of increasing safety measures (car seats, baby on board signs, school lockdowns). They were rarely left unsupervised. They were sheltered from having to take care of their own conflicts as parents advocated on their behalf, and “spared” them from unpleasant experiences. As college students, they may expect faculty and staff to shelter, protect, and nurture them – and resolve their conflicts for them. Millennials are the focus of the most sweeping youth safety movement in American history." In my line of work the highlighted portion above is a sensitive subject. It seems that my generation's parents thought that if they could live through it so can their kids. This generation's parents seem to think that their kids will never have to suffer the tough times that they had to.

This is a topic essential for schools to tackle and respond appropriately to. There is a sure need to adjust policy and break out of old teaching methods and attitudes.

www.d.umn.edu/advising/MillennialTraits.doc