Does anyone else notice this generation of high school kids

Just do not seem to care about anything else except themselves and have no motivation?

I didn't graduate that long ago ('99) and I feel like they have no motivation to do well in school or even work. I bring this up because I am staying with my parents until I have my and I have a sister who is 16 and 3 brothers, 21, 19, 11. My sister received her report card today and was so happy that she got a 65 in English. You would think that she got an A in the class. Then I heard her talking to her friend about gym and she got a 69, in gym!! I asked her how she did that and she said she didn't change and thought it was stupid. My two older brothers graduated with grades in the high 70's low 80's and now work for my dad and they so lazy about working. They complain everyday. Granted I complained every day but they get treated pretty well. I mean who complains about working on a Saturday when you are getting time and half? I was in accounting before becoming a SAHM and I explained to them that I use to work 10-12 days and saturdays and never received any type of compenstation and I wasn't even an accountant. They looked at me like I was crazy said that they would have quit. The 11 year old said he isn't going to college because it is a waste of 4 years of his life . I am the only one out of the 5 of us that went on to college, granted I only have my Associates but I do plan on going back once my kids are in school. I know parents have alot to do with it and my parents give them crap but never actually do anything about it which I do not think it is right but it is not my place to say.

I know their are still plenty of kids that are still exceling and are motivated, so I am not saying that all kids are like this. This was just an observation I made and also noticed it with their friends. Has anyone noticed this also?

Re: Does anyone else notice this generation of high school kids

I teach Middle School and it amazes me how acceptable a 65 has become!!!!!! If I ever brought home a 65, I wouldn't have seen the light of day until the next report card.

Honestly, if a 65 is perfectly acceptable to the parents, why should the child try harder? There is very little internal motivation for this generation, it's actually quite sad.

Re: Does anyone else notice this generation of high school kids

i think many kids today feel entitled. they think things will be handed to them, and unfortunately, many parents are handing everything to them. (and of course, many are not)

about half of my SECOND graders (ages 7-8) have their own cell phones and ipods...so what else is there to look forward to? as they age, they will continue to expect to get the bigger and better things that adults have

it's a shame, but many in this generation won't, IMO, be able to support themselves if they expect everything to be handed to them.

you need to learn how to fall and pick yourself back up again without looking for someone to sue

Re: Does anyone else notice this generation of high school kids

I teach hs and it is amazing how most students are perfectly okay to just do enough work in order to make it through the course

Re: Does anyone else notice this generation of high school kids

I am amazed at the lack of work ethic of the younger generation. My dad owns his own business and has trouble with keeping and getting good employees. Young people are so obsessed with celebrities and designer things it is pathetic. If we have to rely on them to keep this country a superpower, we are in serious trouble.

Re: Does anyone else notice this generation of high school kids

Posted by mommy2Alex

I am amazed at the lack of work ethic of the younger generation. My dad owns his own business and has trouble with keeping and getting good employees. Young people are so obsessed with celebrities and designer things it is pathetic. If we have to rely on them to keep this country a superpower, we are in serious trouble.

Re: Does anyone else notice this generation of high school kids

Yes, I have noticed that also. Don't you feel old saying that? I think every generation feels that way - I can remember my mom telling me how different things were when she was younger and my grandfather telling me the same thing.

Re: Does anyone else notice this generation of high school kids

I had a senior a few years ago make it her goal to have the maximum number of absences per year without losing credit--and she did it!!!
She blew off the last week of school, didn't care about her grades, her classes, nothing!!!

The apathy that I see now really scares me--I can't get over how lazy and entitled some of the kids are -- it is very disheartening.

Re: Does anyone else notice this generation of high school kids

i think they're labeling them the 'helpless generation'.. and, understandabley so.


and. YES... i feel like an old fart saying that

Re: Does anyone else notice this generation of high school kids

Oh you don't have to tell me, I teach HS. Many students are extremely lazy and just do enough to get by.

Re: Does anyone else notice this generation of high school kids

Message edited 6/26/2007 8:59:54 PM.

Re: Does anyone else notice this generation of high school kids

Not only do they just care about themselves and don't possess any self motivation. But I was at two HS graduation parties this weekend and I'm walking around and I said to my SO is it me or do these girls look really old, and he was like yea they do. I don't get it!

Re: Does anyone else notice this generation of high school kids

I've got to say, this sounds like people in older generations weren't getting low grades or slacking...I graduated high school in '96 and there were tons of kids failing out, doing drugs, and skipping class. Likewise, when I was in college there were helicopter parents hovering and calling all the time...College kids complaining to parents about not getting into the classes that they wanted. My point is that this just doesn't seem like new news to me.

Maybe it's just that since we are all now working that we are more in a place to judge? In my family it's just unacceptable not to go to a competitive 4 year college. The young cousins now in middle school know that, the cousins my age knew that, and it's just the values of my family. You'd get a beat-down for a 65. I can't fathom parents accepting having such slacker kids, but I just don't see it as new to this generation.

I do alumni interviewing for the ivy league college I attended, and I've got to say, the ivies are only getting more and more competitive since applications are going up and students applying have such high scores and extracurriculars. My point is, there is a spectrum, but I still see tons of the kids working their butts off.

I think it is different for first generation college students, and either parents stress the importance of continuing education or act like it is not a big deal. The kids are learning their values at home. My parents built up college to be heaven! The best years of my life. And it was. I could not wait to go to college. I truly believe everyone should go away to a 4 year college and live on campus if they have an opportunity to do so, not because of the value of the degree alone, but because it is the only time of your life you may be able to have that experience.

Message edited 6/26/2007 9:22:42 PM.

Re: Does anyone else notice this generation of high school kids

Ive seen this in the high schools also, and just from subbing (well who DOEs want to work when their teacher is out, party day! )
but I remember last year one girl was mocking her classmate.
"cool girl mocking the nerd"
she made a comment like "oh SURE she's almost done, we didnt even start" just overall obnoxious comments.
and I couldnt hold my tongue and I nicely said to her
"I suggest you start being nice to her, because in a few years, she might be your boss, you'll be sitting outside HER office, ordering her coffee and lunch"
I just had to shed a dose of reality on her little smart alec face
and I think it worked.. she was pondering life for the duration of the class, and her "nerd" ( classmate was smiling but still a bit confused about what I said

Message edited 6/26/2007 10:12:44 PM.

Re: Does anyone else notice this generation of high school kids

Posted by anna

Ive seen this in the high schools also, and just from subbing (well who DOEs want to work when their teacher is out, party day! )
but I remember last year one girl was mocking her classmate.
"cool girl mocking the nerd"
she made a comment like "oh SURE she's almost done, we didnt even start" just overall obnoxious comments.
and I couldnt hold my tongue and I nicely said to her
"I suggest you start being nice to her, because in a few years, she might be your boss, you'll be sitting outside HER office, ordering her coffee and lunch"
I just had to shed a dose of reality on her little smart alec face
and I think it worked.. she was pondering life for the duration of the class, and her "nerd" ( classmate was smiling but still a bit confused about what I said

Re: Does anyone else notice this generation of high school kids

you're right - "Celebrate Mediocrity" seems to be the theme lately.

Re: Does anyone else notice this generation of high school kids

I think the older generation says the same thing about the younger generation since the beginning to time.

I think people in their teens & 20s are generally lazy. If anything I believe this generation will have it harder than we did.

Re: Does anyone else notice this generation of high school kids

I, personally, see students working very hard in my school - but it might just be my district....
Of course there will always be kids who don't work hard, but I can't say it's the entire generation of kids who are slacking off...

Re: Does anyone else notice this generation of high school kids

I just think in general kids today are growing up too fast and I am not old either. I graduated in 98'. I look at girls in middle school who dress for school like I did when I went out to a bar during college. I know parents who have given their ELEMENTARY school kids cell phones. Kids today sit home and play with video games and watch TV and their parents dont make them get jobs at 15 to teach them the value of a dollar. I think part of the reason kids are becoming laxadasical about school is that b/c of the financial stress of living in this area, both parents have to work in most cases and dont get to spend as much tim with their older children and they dont question what they are doing, where they are going, who they are going with and actually get to know their children. They just assume b/c they are older they are ok on their own. I think that is part of the reason some kids "go wrong". This is JMO based on things I have seen personally.

Re: Does anyone else notice this generation of high school kids

Message edited 6/27/2007 8:36:33 AM.

Re: Does anyone else notice this generation of high school kids

I graduated in '99 also and was near top of my class, went to college and just now finished my masters

I feel I am very motivated and want to always do my best and that started because of my parents. They expected high grades and manners. My dad especially taught me about good and hard work ethics.


Now speaking as a teacher- the next generation (I taught 9/10 yr olds) is very lazy and proud of themselves for not doing anything.

I tried to have 3 students retained this year for consistently recieving 20's- 50's on report cards/tests.....well the principal didnt approve of leaving them back.

When they asked me on the last day if they were going to 5th grade, I told them they were but they did not earn it, one responded " YES! I knew I'd get away with it!

#@$@$ I am quickly hating my career choice because of kids like that

Re: Does anyone else notice this generation of high school kids

Posted by nov04libride

Posted by anna

Ive seen this in the high schools also, and just from subbing (well who DOEs want to work when their teacher is out, party day! )
but I remember last year one girl was mocking her classmate.
"cool girl mocking the nerd"
she made a comment like "oh SURE she's almost done, we didnt even start" just overall obnoxious comments.
and I couldnt hold my tongue and I nicely said to her
"I suggest you start being nice to her, because in a few years, she might be your boss, you'll be sitting outside HER office, ordering her coffee and lunch"
I just had to shed a dose of reality on her little smart alec face
and I think it worked.. she was pondering life for the duration of the class, and her "nerd" ( classmate was smiling but still a bit confused about what I said

I get what you're saying, but we made fun of nerds and were mean to the subs in the 80s too.

Re: Does anyone else notice this generation of high school kids

Posted by Arieschick29

I graduated in '99 also and was near top of my class, went to college and just now finished my masters

I feel I am very motivated and want to always do my best and that started because of my parents. They expected high grades and manners. My dad especially taught me about good and hard work ethics.


Now speaking as a teacher- the next generation (I taught 9/10 yr olds) is very lazy and proud of themselves for not doing anything.

I tried to have 3 students retained this year for consistently recieving 20's- 50's on report cards/tests.....well the principal didnt approve of leaving them back.

When they asked me on the last day if they were going to 5th grade, I told them they were but they did not earn it, one responded " YES! I knew I'd get away with it!

#@$@$ I am quickly hating my career choice because of kids like that

Re: Does anyone else notice this generation of high school kids

Posted by Kara

Posted by nrthshgrl

I think people in their teens & 20s are generally lazy. If anything I believe this generation will have it harder than we did.

Well, allow me to be an ambassador for the motivated people in their 20s. I'm 26, hold a bachelors with honors, graduated #1 in my law school class, and make a high 6-figure salary. While working 60-80 hours per week, I own two horses that I ride at least 3 days a week and planned my own wedding. I'm far from lazy. Few of my friends are lazy either.

Do I have some lazy, unmotivated friends? Yes, but they are by far the exception, not the rule, in my circles. I also think that people in their mid - late 20s really aren't the same generation as the teens that are now in HS (but then again, this could be because I identify more with those in their 30s -- I was the baby in my family by 8 years).

I'm not saying all this to brag or be defensive -- I'm saying it b/c I think the bottom line is that there are motivated and unmotivated people in every generation. There are smart and less smart people in every generation. I'd venture to say for every lazy, unmotivated 20-something year old you've met, there's another 20-something year old like me. Same goes for the younger generations.

I think we're just all at an age now where we see it from the perspective of the adult. We view our childhood experiences for what WE got out of it. If we are all motivated, smart, etc., then we likely had similar friends and are probably just forgetting all the lazy idiots we encountered along the way. We probably don't know the lazy people in our own generations because we likely just don't run in the same circles - not because they don't exist.

Do I tend to feel that teens and children seem to have a greater sense of entitlement these days? Yes... but I'm not entirely sure if that's true or if it's just my perception... or maybe my friends and I are just huge exceptions to our generation - who knows? It's possible! I do think this is a very intereting question, though!

ETF spelling errors.

Re: Does anyone else notice this generation of high school kids

Posted by MrsPowers

Posted by nov04libride

Posted by anna

Ive seen this in the high schools also, and just from subbing (well who DOEs want to work when their teacher is out, party day! )
but I remember last year one girl was mocking her classmate.
"cool girl mocking the nerd"
she made a comment like "oh SURE she's almost done, we didnt even start" just overall obnoxious comments.
and I couldnt hold my tongue and I nicely said to her
"I suggest you start being nice to her, because in a few years, she might be your boss, you'll be sitting outside HER office, ordering her coffee and lunch"
I just had to shed a dose of reality on her little smart alec face
and I think it worked.. she was pondering life for the duration of the class, and her "nerd" ( classmate was smiling but still a bit confused about what I said

I get what you're saying, but we made fun of nerds and were mean to the subs in the 80s too.

The way the kids in our generation treated subs or other adults was quite different than how the kids today treat adults. They have very little respect for adults.