Image Credit: ClassandCareers.com
As with everything I see on the news, there are some parts I agree with and some I have to disagree, or give (from my opinion and experience only) clarification to...
- I agree, Gen Y and/or "millennials" are tech-savvy, but only in a user/consumer type of way:
-- Because video games are "fun," they will spend hours trying to master the next level.
-- Because science and mathematics are "boring," anything not solvable in 5 minutes wastes gaming time.
-- Because they've always had some version of the Internet and a search engine, the answer is not a thought process or intricate steps away: it's a "Google search" away.
- I agree that the "medals for everyone" philosophy from soccer to karate probably didn't get them ready for life's disappointments like: bad performance reviews & how to bounce back from them; downsizing and layoffs. They can however, neither be Mark Zuckerburg, LeBron James or Jay-z.
-- No, it is unrealistic to think that the world must give you what you want/desire only because you want it without sacrifice or work.
-- As pointed out, they have experienced the change in lifestyles from their parents' layoffs. It's normal and quite human to want something different for oneself.
-- Death is something every generation experiences: death of a pet, a loved one, etc. Millennial children are not immune to this human experience.
- I concur that the Millennials interviewed were priveleged, upper middle class, and they only contrasted that with images of diversity in the office parade/tailgate party.
-- However, the drive towards diversity has unified the music teens listen to (I'm old enough to recall a segregated top 40/black billboard listing: you made it big if you "crossed over"), the persons they consider dating and the clothing they wear. It is now "teen culture," a brilliant over-simplification.
-- Advertisers have been inundating them with commercials ever since they could sit up and watch images. Therefore, their tastes are defined by what they've been exposed to.
-- Hence, market forces have made them the ultimate consumers.
What is not mentioned (or maybe, avoided) is how profoundly society has changed since the advent of first 24-hour cable television that allows access to views of lifestyles children were not exposed to a generation ago unless they traveled -- usually with their parents as a counterbalance to what they were exposed to. I've experienced in England (for example) Barney followed by a show that displayed full nudity (at the time the boys were young, and I had FAST reflexes on the remote).
At risk of sounding "old and crotchity," there was some shame at a teenager getting pregnant out of wedlock at least a generation ago. It is an accepted norm now to know someone who's had a child before the age of twenty. Studies have shown that "Children born to teenage mothers are at risk for more physical and cognitive problems than those born to adult mothers." That's no longer a preachy "family values" edict: it is researched scientific fact that this generation is going to have to deal with.
This reflects in what teachers have to deal with in the classroom and the maturity of the parent -- say parent 32, student 15 (do the math) -- the teacher has to call to get assistance on discipline issues encountered in the same classroom.
I originally attributed what I saw in the classroom to the "entertainment industrial complex." Again, other cultures seem to do things "old school" to rousing success that can only be attributed to the old maxim: "hard work pays off."
In the US, teachers must have "stage presence," throw in a few jokes, play Physics Jeopardy as they present concepts as intricate as thermodynamics and nuclear physics.
I'm not against that (and, have done it), but science and math demand an adherence to mastering basic concepts. These cannot be rendered to pure entertainment only. Learning what to do solving for "x" in an algebra problem is the same mechanics one would use to balance a chemical equation, solve a physics problem of motion/momentum, architect a skyscraper or designing an integrated (soon nanoscale) circuit.
That is the foundation of creating a class of productive citizenry, be they boomer, buster or the current milleniel generation.
It seems to me there's some exaggeration there as to the differences between the generations. Except for digital technology, the influences 20 years ago were much the same.
ReplyDeleteNo one said this generation doesn't want to work hard. But school is basically the opposite of putting in effort, it is an exercise in following instructions.
And for what? So we can create "productive citizenry," which is to say we need to mold children into engineers or technology workers to improve our economy. Another profound corruption of the true purpose of Education.
1. Consider this is a blog about physics and its impact on society. 2. Also consider my major and most of my work has been in science/engineering/physics, therefore my opinion biased. 3. I don't think as I reread my post here I was suggesting "Engineering Automatons" or "Stepford Scientists," but my counter to you is to define what you mean by the "true purpose of education?" Except to counter my post, you really didn't define it clearly, in my opinion.
ReplyDelete