It may seem that I am getting old when I ask, “What has happened to the youth?” When I look at the grades in my classes I am disheartened. Students get their grade reports and when they see an F they don’t seem disappointed, upset, regretful, or any other such accountable reaction. Instead, their parents call or email me asking what happened. Obviously it must be the teachers fault because there isn’t any apparent system in place to hold students accountable for their learning. Parents laugh off the grades, say, “that’s just my little Eddie, what can we do?” BE A PARENT. That is what you can do.
When I was growing up an F was not an option. Not only was it not an option it would have been an embarrassment to me. I’m certain my mother would not have gone running to the teacher asking them what “extra” credit could be given to me. What “extra” work my teacher could do because I had obviously not done what was needed to get above failure. Instead, parents want to be their child’s friend. They want to go shopping together, get pedicures, and hear about the latest gossip. They certainly don’t want to hear the dreaded, “I hate you,” from their child because they had disciplined them.
My fear is that soon these kids will become adults and be running our country. If kids do not learn responsibility, if everything is handed to them on a platter, what kind of life and happiness will they have as an adult? When people do not learn to work and strive for what they have they will never be happy with anything. They will get out of school and expect a very high paying job with little work. Given the lack of effort in school they will not have the skills necessary to achieve any kind of good job let alone a great one.
To the parents of this world, please hold your children accountable. If they cheat on a test, don’t ask how they can make it up; teach them the difference between right and wrong and accepting the consequences for their actions. Be the parent your child needs, not the parent they want.
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2 comments:
A teacher at my school had her students read an article about how the lack of accountability is one of the characteristics of the current generation...their reaction was: "Yes, that's true. But if we can't blame other people for stuff, what are we supposed to do? It doesn't make sense."
I thought that was interesting.
This happened at the daycare too. You could tell the quality of parenting by the way the parent reacted to the caregivers and to the times their child got into trouble.
The successful parents were considerate and polite to the staff (which pays off, by the way, because you feel appreciated).
The loving parents were also very serious and stern when the child was in trouble. I remember one mother said (of her child who had talked back to the director of the daycare), "OH, Cody, I am shocked. We don't do that." He put his head down. And I could tell they would have a loving yet firm discussion of respect.
The ....ill prepared?... parents were almost suspicious of the caregivers and rarely thanked anyone. In fact, it was almost like we were perceived as against them.
When their child did something wrong, interestingly, the parents would act like THEY were in trouble and get defensive. Like we were attacking their parenting, when in reality, all kids push the limits sometimes. The conversation turned to, "What do you want me to do?" and how can I get out of here...as opposed to, let's help teach this child boundaries.
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