Can somebody please tell me ....

....what the hell's wrong with kids these days? I'm i high school science teacher with mostly juniors and seniors in my classes, so 16 and 17 year old kids. I've had a few boys (definitely boys, not "young men") in my class's this year who have:
Told their parents I'm "mean"
Cried in class because they are stressed
Cried in front of their guidance counselors because they're stressed

And just generally giant babies. When I was 16 I wouldn't have even thought about telling my parents somebody was "mean" to me, much less cried because I was stressed out. Seriously, wtf happened?

Sorry if I'm ranting and sorry of anybody reading this has kids who are like this. I'm not trying to insult anybody, just trying to understand.

 

Everyones a winner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Until working at drive through window till retirement.

OP check out Idiocracy (the movie)... sums up some of the BS your experiencing.

 

My wife is an elementary school teacher. Lets just say im worried about some of these next generations.

 

Yep, pretty much.

 

and to be fair our parents said the same of the next generation and so on down the line.

My grandfather walked backwards uphill to school both ways barefoot in 3' of snow.

 

The same time they realize no one wants them to spawn their crappy kids into a already overpopulated world that doesn't have enough jobs to support the current population.

Spay and neuter I say........

 

Lets just say because one kid in my wifes class has a peanut butter alergy no one is allowed peanut butter. WTF? Kids cant bring Lacrosse sticks to school cuz they could be used as a weapon. Since when is everything a weapon?

I live on a street full of young kids. Do you know how many play outside. NONE... When I was young my mom kicked us out and said dont come home till the street lights come on and thats before cell phones. She couldnt call us if we went missing. She just knew we would be home when the lights came on.

Cuz if we wernt there would be spankings. and if we hurt each other there might be a belt.

My brothers and I work hard. All went to college. Never collected a government anything. Never felt entitled to anything. and we Never went to jail.

 

What gets me is that children now think life takes place in their smartphone, on facebook, snap chat or whatever app. I see whole families in restaurants where everyone is looking at their damn screen and they won't talk to each other - it's so sad!

 

You can't blame any one thing for the way kids are today. Was it a better world 100 years ago. No it wasn't. Were the kids better behaved? Probably but mostly because you could beat the piss out of them legally. I'm not sure that I'm okay with that. I wasn't hit as a child and I think I turned out okay. Then again I never complained about a teacher because I knew my grades were a direction reflection of my effort 99% of the time.

Society has changed so much and so fast that kids grow up faster in some ways today due to technology and in other ways are more insulated from failing by multiple things then ever before.

There's a balance somewhere in all of this. I don't think laying the hammer down on kids helps them anymore then talk of gumdrops and rainbows. No offense to the OP, but I also see teachers whining about salary structures in Canada that guarantee them $80,000/year jobs after putting in 5-6 years no matter how there performance has been, which doesn't happen in the private sector. I think that's a problem too.

 

That movie is so accurate on what is happening with this country.

 

Okay if kids in high school are complaining of stress they haven't been in the real world where stress of job, schooling and relationships come into play. Man I'd love to be 16 again since I'd be without much stress and homework was easy.

 

I think what's wrong is this:

 

X2

 

I agree with this.

Watched my nephews play little league last spring where every team and every player received trophies just for playing. There was no special 1st place trophy and the kids so no incentive of what can be gained through hard work and pratice.

I also see the parents as an issue also (no offense to parents here, as it seems most here understand the value of structure/rules in the house). Many parents do not discipline their kids and give in to their kids' requests. When parenting fails, it sets up the kids to fail.

 

Yeah Nick !!! You got it !

and .... WTF is wearing a Helmut while you ride your bike ???

I Can't .... I have Fiber-My-Ass-Hurts

 

Because someone will see this thread, try to find out who you are so they can get you fired for it.

 

pre-wwII parents lived through the depression//WWII ---> lent values to baby boomers

baby boomers didn't want their kids to live like they/their parents did- rough times

spoiled the shit out of their kids

spoiled kids grow up not knowing how to not-spoil their kids

result: participation medals and minimum wage MUST be able to support a family

 

Good moral, but I don't think no "handouts" is always the way to go. I totally agree with the poster who talked about the lack of a real trophy. I remember when I was a kid we'd get participation ribbons but the winners got kickass trophies. It was nice to have the ribbon but the trophy was always at the top of my mind.

I also got kicked out of the house, especially in the summer, to go play outside. We'd kick the shit out of our mountain bikes or go find something interesting to do. We might not get spanked for missing curfew, but everything nice like Nintendo and snacks would disappear for days (repercussions rather than corporal punishment). Now a days parents just let the kids sit in front of a screen all day and let that tube do all of the teaching. It's sad when I log in to games like CS:GO and see 12 y/o kids with over a thousand hours played on a game that's been out for a year

 

I edited my quote of your comment, I hope that works for you. I know what you mean by lack of discipline and I agree with you. I'm expecting my first child in April. My goal is to parent similarly to how my parents raised me. Both my brother and I have careers and are well educated so they must of done something right.

 

I understood most of the posts but yours has left me

I don't want this and didn't expect it to get political. I just don't understand how you can be 16 or 17 and still cry when confronted with a little difficulty. I guess I am kind of mean because I tell my classes that their high school years are the easiest, least complicated years of their life. I guess reality checks are a no-go for this gen?