Blame the Boomers, the shallowest generation

[Wild Style]

Re: Blame the Boomers, the shallowest generation

labasta

Well first let me say, after the telecomm bust in '01 (I worked at Lucent) I went into teaching to make ends meet for awhile. I understand your words with 100% clarity! I would like to say this though. I think the school system went wrong in SO many ways. My mother told me how it was when she grew up. Did you know, back in the day’s kids actually had the ability to learn auto mechanics in school or plumbing or some other trade? Not every kid is meant to go off to college and become the next wiz kid at Harvard. I think the structure of the president day school system tries to make every kid into an academic and ignores reality. Give these kids choices! If a kid isn't college material and is better suited for a trade, then darn it, offer them that track! Make sure they can read exceptionally well, and give them the basics (reading, writing and arithmetic). Make sure they can balance a check book, and do other things they will need when they graduate. Then offer them courses in their trade. In Brooklyn there is a high school with a strong slant toward auto mechanics. That is what this country needs to go back to. Offer the academic/college track for those kids who want it. For others, offer them the trade route. Also, as you pointed out they need to cut down on class sizes. Another thing that is absurd (at least here in Florida) is, they teach the FCAT (Florida standardized test) for about the first half of the year. No wonders these kids are dumb as rocks. You are teaching them to pass the FCAT and no real teaching is going on until Feb/March and school is out in June. That is four months of real learning. How absurd is that?

As for the individualism, I saw that teaching too. I thought my generation was bad (I’m in my 30s too). This new generation coming up is scary as hell. They don't care about anything. At the school I taught at, there was one little girl that serviced about 15 boys in the boys bathroom one day (she had them in a queue). Another kid tripped a 60 year old teacher who almost broke his back (the kid did it on purpose). Another student slashed a teacher’s tire because the teacher was homosexual. The tire blew up while he was on the highway, could have easily flipped the car. I remember the principle refused to write up any of these incidents. Why you ask? Well because of this moronic report card system. School has too many suspension/referrals then the schools rating drops (mind boggling isn't it). I don't know what the answer is. Sure the cause of all this may be rooted in the time period of the boomers but it sure as hell doesn't stop with them.

Other traits which I see common in schools which I never use to see is: a lack of respect, ingratitude, lack of order, impoliteness, extreme laziness. These are qualities of the fire economy generations. In Ireland in the 80s when everyone was poor, you saw none of this.

The different strokes episode saw issues which would seem not as much of an issue to us today. The children had a sense of repect, maturity and politeness about them. It was a bit wierd to watch. It's quite difficult for me to describe.

I think Ireland is a different situation. I have never been to Ireland but my ASSUMPTIONS about Ireland is, they are a bit more grounded in religion and tradition. There is something to temper their behavior. Also, are kids being raised by tv over there or by their parents? So many factors to take into account. I think the individualism of American's clearly plays a part in all this. When you see yourself some how being more important over the needs of your country/fellow countrymen, that's a problem. Not saying we shouldn't pursue a good standard of living and all that. A good friend of mine I grew up with is originally from UK. He recently moved back to UK and he was telling me about the differences between American's and Europeans. We got to talking about how if the French feel wronged in some way they shut entire cities down. People band together to make sure the common cause was achieved. I thought to myself, damn that would never, and I mean never happen in America.

[labasta]

Re: Blame the Boomers, the shallowest generation

Yes,

I can't paint Europeans with the same brush. France is known for getting together when they disagree with something. Riots are the weapon of choice, and a good one at that. The Irish don't riot (except for religious secretaranism). 1 million of them died in the famine, and still they didn't riot! It doesn't get any worse than that! The rest just left. Unlike the 80s, in this depression, there will be nowhere to run to however.

I had the positive impression that American patriotism, although primitive on the outside, is a strong glue overriding some ethnic or social divisions in America. You don't really get such a strong glue in a European country.


I agree with the school system being wrong. There are a minority of students (at least) who aren't academically bright. They love woodwork and such. These will naturally give a teacher and class a hard time because they are either bored or don't like the subject. This coupled with the "pander to me" attitude. The only way they do the work is through fear of punishment which by itself means that the system isn't working.

In the UK in the 60s they also had practical classes. They also had schools for bright ones and thick ones. The socialist government got rid of them and had one collective school. Fair enough if you can tier the classes inside the school (which you can't). They said it was to give everyone, rich or poor, a chance at education. It has done the opposite. Working class children who were bright are now forced to learn with thick kids. Before they had an opportunity to go to an elite grammar school (for free). These old grammar schools turned into private fee paying schools. Amazing! It's such nonsense. Again it is like native people taking "revenge" on their white oppressors, Labour were taking revenge on their elitest rich people, or so they thought. Instead they denied opportunity to everyone, especially the poor. Just like Zimbabwe. Revenge or restitution DOES NOT WORK.

The school system needs a MASSIVE overhaul. I agree.


Both parents work these days and spoil their kids with material possessions, but not time. This is the problem. You can't blame the parents, as they have to live. But if the parents can't parent properly (instill values etc.) then the teachers must take up the slack. If they do not, then we will go to hell in a handbasket if this continues for another 2 or 3 generations.

[algerwetmore]

Re: Blame the Boomers, the shallowest generation

I agree with many of your assessments of the educational system. I am a retired educator, that saw many of the abuses of the educational system.
Much of our educational system is about the socialization of students, not necessarily the education of students.
At my former school, they got rid of the home ec. and shop classes, and then they wonder why no one can consume a proper diet, and even know how to use a saw. The end result- a obesity problem out of control.
There were many school districts that sold their soul for a few shekels so that PEPSICO or MCDONALDS could develop a permanent brand base in the schools.
I tried to propose a modest decrease in student council activities, homecoming and more time devoted to class instruction. What a foolish concept that was. We got even more socialization- snow queen and snow king, an assembly presented by Miss America, perception over reality!
I think that eventually that America will be forced to recognize honest, hard work; because nothing else will get the job done.

[labasta]

Re: Blame the Boomers, the shallowest generation

labasta

Well first let me say, after the telecomm bust in '01 (I worked at Lucent) I went into teaching to make ends meet for awhile. I understand your words with 100% clarity! I would like to say this though. I think the school system went wrong in SO many ways. My mother told me how it was when she grew up. Did you know, back in the day’s kids actually had the ability to learn auto mechanics in school or plumbing or some other trade? Not every kid is meant to go off to college and become the next wiz kid at Harvard. I think the structure of the president day school system tries to make every kid into an academic and ignores reality. Give these kids choices! If a kid isn't college material and is better suited for a trade, then darn it, offer them that track! Make sure they can read exceptionally well, and give them the basics (reading, writing and arithmetic). Make sure they can balance a check book, and do other things they will need when they graduate. Then offer them courses in their trade. In Brooklyn there is a high school with a strong slant toward auto mechanics. That is what this country needs to go back to. Offer the academic/college track for those kids who want it. For others, offer them the trade route. Also, as you pointed out they need to cut down on class sizes. Another thing that is absurd (at least here in Florida) is, they teach the FCAT (Florida standardized test) for about the first half of the year. No wonders these kids are dumb as rocks. You are teaching them to pass the FCAT and no real teaching is going on until Feb/March and school is out in June. That is four months of real learning. How absurd is that?

As for the individualism, I saw that teaching too. I thought my generation was bad (I’m in my 30s too). This new generation coming up is scary as hell. They don't care about anything. At the school I taught at, there was one little girl that serviced about 15 boys in the boys bathroom one day (she had them in a queue). Another kid tripped a 60 year old teacher who almost broke his back (the kid did it on purpose). Another student slashed a teacher’s tire because the teacher was homosexual. The tire blew up while he was on the highway, could have easily flipped the car. I remember the principle refused to write up any of these incidents. Why you ask? Well because of this moronic report card system. School has too many suspension/referrals then the schools rating drops (mind boggling isn't it). I don't know what the answer is. Sure the cause of all this may be rooted in the time period of the boomers but it sure as hell doesn't stop with them.



I think Ireland is a different situation. I have never been to Ireland but my ASSUMPTIONS about Ireland is, they are a bit more grounded in religion and tradition. There is something to temper their behavior. Also, are kids being raised by tv over there or by their parents? So many factors to take into account. I think the individualism of American's clearly plays a part in all this. When you see yourself some how being more important over the needs of your country/fellow countrymen, that's a problem. Not saying we shouldn't pursue a good standard of living and all that. A good friend of mine I grew up with is originally from UK. He recently moved back to UK and he was telling me about the differences between American's and Europeans. We got to talking about how if the French feel wronged in some way they shut entire cities down. People band together to make sure the common cause was achieved. I thought to myself, damn that would never, and I mean never happen in America.

Wild Style,

Fred locked the other post, but I just want to say that your reply to my "200 years" made fair points, some of which I had thought of myself after I had rashly written mine. Slavery and American Apartheid and all that. I felt like a bit of a douschebag to tell you the truth.

You may have often seen that I write without review of my own thoughts so please give me a liitle slack.


I still stand by my incestuous observations though, which some people hold more dear than others.

[Wild Style]

Re: Blame the Boomers, the shallowest generation

Wild Style,

Fred locked the other post, but I just want to say that your reply to my "200 years" made fair points, some of which I had thought of myself after I had rashly written mine. Slavery and American Apartheid and all that. I felt like a bit of a douschebag to tell you the truth.

You may have often seen that I write without review of my own thoughts so please give me a liitle slack.


I still stand by my incestuous observations though, which some people hold more dear than others.

Thoughts are like finger prints, no two or alike. I always take that into consideration when speaking to someone. Especially on the net, so no worries my friend! AmericanS have come a long way and we still have a LONG way to go. We will get there though. I never thought I would see the day someone like Obama would be president. This might sound corny but I can truly say anything is possible now. I keep waking up and expecting someone to interview a big foot or a vampire or something, the impossible has been achieved! lol

[labasta]

Re: Blame the Boomers, the shallowest generation

Thoughts are like finger prints, no two or alike. I always take that into consideration when speaking to someone. Especially on the net, so no worries my friend! AmericanS have come a long way and we still have a LONG way to go. We will get there though. I never thought I would see the day someone like Obama would be president. This might sound corny but I can truly say anything is possible now. I keep waking up and expecting someone to interview a big foot or a vampire or something, the impossible has been achieved! lol

Before Obama came on the scene, I had thought that there would be a black president in maybe 50 years or so. I thought a woman president would hit the scenes much much sooner. I thought Hilary would get it despite nobody liking her (well, nobody this side of the pond). Turns out I was wrong.

Maybe an hispanic one is next. ;)

Or maybe Hilary will give it one last shot (heaven forbid).

New times ahead. How they will turn out, well, I've no idea.