This is going to be one of those teacher rants about what is wrong with kids today. That is probably one of the more boring things to write about, but I think I have a good observation. I am also not blaming kids. Kids act the way they are conditioned to. It is we, the adults, that have to take blame.
Today, for the second time this year, a student got made at the way I answered his question. The first time, I was told by a student that I didn't have to "be smart". Today, another student said I didn't have to be a "dick".
The first time I was asked a question about the student's study guide and if he should tear the pages out of his notebook and turn them in. He asked this as half the class was up stapling their pages that they tore out of their notebooks and turning them in. So, I told him sarcastically to leave the pages in whatever they are currently in. Turn in the notebook, backpack, shirt, jacket, car, house, whatever is surrounding it. I said it with a smile and I joke all the time with my students, but this kid got all bent out of shape. That is the fist time anyone has ever overtly been offended.
Today, I posted the scores of the final exams for the quarter. I posted them in the classroom right under where I posted their grades right before the final. I explained that they can figure out their grade for the quarter because the grades before the final represent 3/4 of their grade and their final score was the other 1/4. Then I got a bunch of questions about what was their grade for the quarter. Then I told them to just do the math. Finally, a kid asks me if I am going to post the grades for the quarter. So, I addressed the whole class, telling them that they should be able to do the math and figure it out. It was simple math, and if they can't figure it out, they don't have the math skills expected of someone graduating high school. That is when the kid told me I don't have to be a dick about it. That is the second time that such a thing has happened since I started my teaching career.
Here is the interesting thing about these two students: they violate classroom and school rules all the time. I get on them about it, and I tell them that it hurts the participation portion of their grade. They just don't care. They care about being treated with respect and dignity, they just aren't going to give that back to anybody. Here lies the problem. Many kids want to be treated like they are better than others, but they do absolutely nothing to distinguish themselves from anyone else.
Some might say that it is because the kids watch reality shows and see nobodies become somebodies without doing anything. I disagree with that premise. I think it is because adults don't treat them as average and instill in them the desire to accomplish something so they can be special. We also make excuses for kids. The kid that doesn't want to pay attention in class could have ADD. The problem is, when there is something that he does like, that keeps his attention just fine. I don't believe there is such a thing as Selective ADD (although that may be coming soon).
I could keep going, but I think you can get my idea. We are creating a generation that thinks they are special because they are not dead. In reality, there is a kid in Asia working his ass off to take the job of the American kid. The structure of those Asian societies are such that failure is so present, that much fewer kids think they are special without accomplishment. We need to pick up on that, or we will be raising a bunch of underachievers.
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