The kids today

Oh, what are we to do with the kids today? Their minds' are everywhere. Shifting focus and bored out of their wits in school. Oh, what are we to do with the kids today? The kids of today, the kids of today…

We often look at the differences between our own generation and the younger generations. We see what we have and what they seemingly lack. We look back and reminisce about the days of yore with a casual melancholy. Attached is a sense of relevance and value to what we have, and elevate its importance. But look around, the social world is a changing place and one that is radically different from our own. If you're like me, you will remember the Internet being invented, or well, introduced to the public. Just being able to go from page to page, looking up whatever information, and even sneaking a peak on the naughty sites was incredible. But at my young age, I had no idea the impact and significance the Internet would have on society. I have been told that the average Internet user accesses more information than a man of the medieval ages does in a lifetime. Now, I don't know if that's true, but it certainly sounds plausible. The flow of information (all of it, including the trash) and exposure to information is radically different from before. And kids today are growing up with it. Of course, their minds are going to be everywhere and yes, kids will be kids. This can't be helped. They are by nature childish. It's what the word is for and they are it.  But the term does extend to high school students and even college students. I certainly still call them that. So what are we to do with the kids today in school? They have radically different instruments than we did. No more calculators probably. It's all on the computer or Ipad, or whatever new device. Holding a book is a chore. But holding the Ipad might not be. I don't know. All I'm saying is that learning skills and preferences of medium will vary and probably differ from generation to generation. So what are we to do? 

 Ser Ken Robinson proposes a paradigm shift in education and provides a great analysis of the system today and why we should change it. (I love these RSA animates).

For the most part, I agree with Robinson. I do have some disagreements in his analysis but that is beside the point. I do think that children are being constrained. Although I think discipline is necessary, the exposure and accessibility of subjects that they enjoy should be given greater consideration. Rather than emphasizing certain subjects (which are only thought to be more important). Those subjects are indeed important for society in a way but drowning students in classes they have no real interest in rather than the ones they wish to excel at, stifles the interest in education. At the same time, too much specialization in one subject can also be constraining and debilitating to being part of the economy. But we all know, we grow up with several interests. Some more than others. But I don't ever recall any person I have talked to who only had one interest and enjoyment in life. There must be a better system fit for today's global society in terms of education - as an intellectual pursuit and an economic pursuit, and to be Hegelian, the relationship between developing education as intellectual, in the broadest sense of the term pertaining to all subjects, and its transition into the workforce that propels the economy; what would be the alternative to the factory line?

Oh, what are we to do with the kids today? The kids today.