I have worked with children of all ages for most of my adult life. That is a long time.
Every generation has said the same thing. They don't know what is to become of the world because of the new generation and the lack of respect for others and for themselves. I have said it too and I will say it again.
I am dumbfounded at the behaviour of children today. They are very disconnected and pay no attention to adults around them. They are tuned in to other kids, but even then, they are always on their devices, that is their phones and ipads or other devices. Schools have given up the fight and turn a blind eye to the use of cell phones in class. It is defended by saying the phones are used for researching lessons. I have seen that to be true, where a worksheet was handed out and answers were found on the phones. I suppose in some instances, it is not much different than research on a larger computer. But, how, then, does the teacher draw the fine line between research and video games, or the fine art of texting one's friends?
There is also the issue of attendance. It appears that students in the lower streams, here in Alberta where streaming still takes place, often disregard their attendance entirely, or go to school and not to classes. The administrators do care, but cannot keep up. Again, many of the teachers have given up.
I told one student I would remove her phone to my desk if I caught her texting one more time. She told me I would not and that I had no right to touch her phone, which was her private property and she would call her mother if I so much as laid a finger on it. I was a little dumbfounded. I won't say what crossed my mind then, but you can imagine. She kept her phone. It was not worth the fight for me as a substitute teacher, however; if I was the regular teacher, this would not have taken place at all. Most schools leave the discretion of cell phone useage to the teachers. In my class it would be simply, no phones! I see it and it goes into a pocket like a shoe holder pocket and does not come out until the student leaves the class.
I was in a different class today. The boys were spraying water all over the place and there was a copious amount on the floor, which then had become a slipping hazard. I asked them to mop it up and they refused and grabbed a ton of paper towels that were totally wasted. They threw out half of the food they made in that class, just threw it in the garbage and they also had another dish they prepared the day before, which was smashed in one case and then disposed of. I commented on the waste of food and they said it was theirs and they could do what they wanted with it. Oh. I asked one of the students if he would like his parents to see a video of how he was acting and he said his father would just laugh. Go figure.
What is to happen with each generation then? Have you ever read a novel from the 18th century? The people were so very polite, bowing and curtseying and saying kind things to one another, never something spiteful or hurtful. Children were not allowed to interfere with adult conversation and were to be polite and courteous at all times. Today's parents think teaching their kids to be polite will stifle their creativity, yet some of the finest minds came from the 18th century, with incredible developments in art, sciences and mathematics. Children do not have to be rude to think!
Did my parents think our generation was also a disaster? I would not have spoken harshly to my parents. If I was asked to do something, I might have grumbled, but never refused. We did not dare! And in school, it was quiet and kids raised their hands to be chosen to speak. One teacher insisted we stand when we spoke out loud. I learned later in life in Toastmasters that indeed, this was acceptable in polite company, even today.
So, where am I going with this and how does it apply to the farm? Some people think farm kids are more polite than city kids. I have seen both and I beg to differ. The redneck farm kids do not hesitate to speak their minds. Even the young ladies are not polite and considerate. In some ways, I think the farm kids are worse than the inner city kids who have lived a whole lot of life by the time they get to high school. It is that sense of entitlement that kids today have in general that bothers me the most. The fact in a student's mind that it is wrong for me to take her cell phone if she does not comply with the rules is simply incongruent with my version of how it should be. What do you think?
Every generation has said the same thing. They don't know what is to become of the world because of the new generation and the lack of respect for others and for themselves. I have said it too and I will say it again.
I am dumbfounded at the behaviour of children today. They are very disconnected and pay no attention to adults around them. They are tuned in to other kids, but even then, they are always on their devices, that is their phones and ipads or other devices. Schools have given up the fight and turn a blind eye to the use of cell phones in class. It is defended by saying the phones are used for researching lessons. I have seen that to be true, where a worksheet was handed out and answers were found on the phones. I suppose in some instances, it is not much different than research on a larger computer. But, how, then, does the teacher draw the fine line between research and video games, or the fine art of texting one's friends?
There is also the issue of attendance. It appears that students in the lower streams, here in Alberta where streaming still takes place, often disregard their attendance entirely, or go to school and not to classes. The administrators do care, but cannot keep up. Again, many of the teachers have given up.
I told one student I would remove her phone to my desk if I caught her texting one more time. She told me I would not and that I had no right to touch her phone, which was her private property and she would call her mother if I so much as laid a finger on it. I was a little dumbfounded. I won't say what crossed my mind then, but you can imagine. She kept her phone. It was not worth the fight for me as a substitute teacher, however; if I was the regular teacher, this would not have taken place at all. Most schools leave the discretion of cell phone useage to the teachers. In my class it would be simply, no phones! I see it and it goes into a pocket like a shoe holder pocket and does not come out until the student leaves the class.
I was in a different class today. The boys were spraying water all over the place and there was a copious amount on the floor, which then had become a slipping hazard. I asked them to mop it up and they refused and grabbed a ton of paper towels that were totally wasted. They threw out half of the food they made in that class, just threw it in the garbage and they also had another dish they prepared the day before, which was smashed in one case and then disposed of. I commented on the waste of food and they said it was theirs and they could do what they wanted with it. Oh. I asked one of the students if he would like his parents to see a video of how he was acting and he said his father would just laugh. Go figure.
What is to happen with each generation then? Have you ever read a novel from the 18th century? The people were so very polite, bowing and curtseying and saying kind things to one another, never something spiteful or hurtful. Children were not allowed to interfere with adult conversation and were to be polite and courteous at all times. Today's parents think teaching their kids to be polite will stifle their creativity, yet some of the finest minds came from the 18th century, with incredible developments in art, sciences and mathematics. Children do not have to be rude to think!
Did my parents think our generation was also a disaster? I would not have spoken harshly to my parents. If I was asked to do something, I might have grumbled, but never refused. We did not dare! And in school, it was quiet and kids raised their hands to be chosen to speak. One teacher insisted we stand when we spoke out loud. I learned later in life in Toastmasters that indeed, this was acceptable in polite company, even today.
So, where am I going with this and how does it apply to the farm? Some people think farm kids are more polite than city kids. I have seen both and I beg to differ. The redneck farm kids do not hesitate to speak their minds. Even the young ladies are not polite and considerate. In some ways, I think the farm kids are worse than the inner city kids who have lived a whole lot of life by the time they get to high school. It is that sense of entitlement that kids today have in general that bothers me the most. The fact in a student's mind that it is wrong for me to take her cell phone if she does not comply with the rules is simply incongruent with my version of how it should be. What do you think?
As a child, the Pookie the flying rabbit books were my favourites. Kids do not read many books today. Maybe they should?
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