What's the Matter with Kids Today?!?

As a classroom teacher, I find myself thinking of that song almost every day. "What's the Matter with Kids Today?' was written in the 1960's for the movie Bye, Bye Birdie. The sentiments remain the same after 50 years!  Haven't kids always been a problem for parents and teachers? Are things really any different today? I would have to argue that, in fact, things are very different today and the problem with kids today is very serious and could be culturally devastating.

What's the problem:  children no longer know how to cope, make decisions on their own, or preserve through difficult situations. Why is this?  Technology has changed everything. The "Selfie" generation's focus on individualism is making real the Greek myth of Narcissus.  Seeing  his own reflection in a river, Narcissus became so entranced with his own beauty that he died of sorrow along the banks of river because he could not obtain his desires. 

 This is exactly what is happening to kids today. Kids are told they are "special', and "brilliant' and can do anything they want to do--"pursue your desires--you are fantastic".  They have 500 likes on Facebook and Instagram. "I am super-fantastic ". But reality is a cruel mirror and you can't actually Do or BE anything without a lot of hard work and effort.  According to psychologist Jean Twenge, young adults are suffering from more depression and anxiety today than ever before because they were told they could anything. Unfortunately, that is just not true. She argues that high self-esteem does not equal happiness or success. What does lead to happiness and success is hard work.

So when kids complain that they have too much homework, or don't like working on a paper for several days, I just tell them, "This is not about what YOU like or dislike. It's about learning to but effort into something and working hard."  Without this kind of attitude, "kids today" are not going to be ready for tomorrow.