We have spent time asking the question... "future?" Now we strive to find the answer. We want to collect answers from all walks of life- all ages, all professions, and all demographics! We are separating the responses by occupation to see if there are any patterns in answers. Quotes on this blog are thoughts, feelings, and stories shared about the future of children, what helps them, what harms them, and what the average person can do to help them stay on track.
We want this section of the blog to spark conversation. Feel free to comment!
Responses from educators:
"Equip children to be successful from the very beginning. Give them the confidence to keep going when things get tough and praise them for the things they do well."
"I feel like today's youth is growing up too fast and being allowed to do things and take on responsibilities that they shouldn't. They are allowed free reign on the internet, cell phones at a young age, TV like "Teen Mom," celebrities like Lindsay Lohan, too much pressure on grades...all of these factors influence teens to grow up too fast."
"Social networks are the most harmful thing to today's youth. I think students put too much personal information and pictures on things like Facebook. Students need to realize that future employers and colleges can access Facebook and see information."
"Youth today have been desensitized to critical everyday behaviors like communication due to an overemphasis on technology. Technology can be utilized in a very positive way but unfortunately young people lean on technology like a crutch. Societal fears have created a culture of over protection and sheltering of young people’s lives including their physical and emotional well-being."
"I had a student back when I was a teacher at Hermitage High School back in the late 80’s. He was very difficult and we ended up in the Assistant Principal’s office many times that year. He was very smart, but his “bad boy” attitude prevented that from showing. My last year at Hermitage, there was a knock on my classroom door and that student came by to see me. I asked if he came to see all of his teachers. He said no that he was only there to see me. He shook my hand and thanked me for what I had done for him. I guess no one spent much time with him and home and he felt that I was one of the only ones that cared. I had always felt that our meetings were negative, but he was grateful that someone took an interest. He had joined the military at the time he saw me. Not sure where he is today!"
"Education ….. Education….. Education!!! Education is a journey not a destination. If more people approached learning with this philosophy in mind there might be more tolerant, understanding, and open-minded people in our society."
"Anytime I hear a child is leaving school, I know it is bad news for his or her future. A lot of times they drop out of school due to family issues: they are needed to help provide income or maybe they have emotional issues created by family drama. Without the structure of school, goals are thrown to the side."
"Encourage and believe in that child. A lot of times children do not believe in themselves because they are told they will not succeed. Just one person showing that child that he or she can succeed truly makes all the difference. Take time out to notice that child. Make him or her feel special. Provide love and attention, even if you are only that child's teacher."
"Depending on who you talk to, some children have very supportive parents while others do not. Unfortunately in this day in age, most families are forced to have two parents working full-time jobs (if they are not divorced which obviously puts more of a strain on families). WIth both parents working, it makes it difficult to stay involved in your child's life. Furthermore, this dynamic keeps stronger bonds within a family from forming. However, ultimately, a child's ability to achieve their goals falls on the individual!"
"I’ve taught some students whose parents make lots of excuses for them throughout elementary school and middle school. Then they can’t understand why their high school student can’t remember to hand in his homework or their college freshmen can’t remember to wake up for his 8am class. Parents should expect great things from their children and give them all the tools they can so that the kids can be successful on their own."
"Keep encouraging them to try. You can only achieve success if you try, and try, and try!"
"Children today do not understand the concept of hard work. When they are released into society to “work”, they flop because they have been coddled for so long by their parents. When parents have children, their first thought is I want to give them everything I never had. Well we are at the top now and children are still wanting and getting more."
"In my opinion, students who are involved in the community and in their school become the most successful adults. Teachers and community members can help students stay involved by offering a range of activities that interest all students. I strongly believe there is a club for everyone. It is up to the sponsors to rope students in. These clubs and organizations become support groups for students. As a dance coach, I have coached many different groups of girls. They don’t always hang out after school or during the school day but we are each other’s support group when something goes awry."
"The lack of family values is the most harmful thing to children, today. When I was growing up, any adult would correct you if you were misbehaving and your parents would support it. Today, it's the "My child would not do that" attitude. In my opinion, this leads the youth of today to feel that they will always be right and that they can do as they please because there are no real consequences for them. When I was in 2nd grade, I remember getting in trouble at school one day. Someone had been teasing me and picking on me and when I finally lashed out, the teacher blamed me for everything. The teacher said she was going to call home. When I got home, I told my mom not to answer the phone if it rang. Of course, this lead to instent "What is going on" and she put me in the car, and back to school we went. While she did not agree with everything the teacher said, it did not matter, I was in the wrong for what I did and was punished at both school and at home."
"Sometimes, there is the lack of adult supervision at home. In some cases, you may have a
one parent family, and that parent may be working two jobs to make ends meet. In other cases, you may have a highly dysfunctional family where the parents may be caught up in their own problems and fail to notice their child's problem until it is to late. In other cases, you have good parents, but the child makes poor choices in friends and actions that they take."
one parent family, and that parent may be working two jobs to make ends meet. In other cases, you may have a highly dysfunctional family where the parents may be caught up in their own problems and fail to notice their child's problem until it is to late. In other cases, you have good parents, but the child makes poor choices in friends and actions that they take."
"Adults must work together to teach the child right from wrong, instill good values in them, and stress the importance of a good education. More positive role models are needed for the youth of today."
"Adults can be very selfish with their time. Sometimes it seems like it is easier to plunk a child in front of a tv and let the tv entertain them - then give them more toys, etc. to let the kids entertain themselves. This is how they start getting into trouble. Kids need attention. They need "focused independence" as they get older - with someone checking on them and following up on what they are "really" doing. So many adults skip this step, which is why kids get into trouble and/or lose their way."
" 'Achieving goals' is mostly a one-on-one kind of activity and really has to be guided by mentors - whether they are instructors in karate, teachers in a classroom, coaches on a field, or parents sitting at the kitchen table helping with a project or a book report. I think the greatest thing adults can do is to ask questions: How do you think you did? What did you learn from this? What can you do to be more successful or better at this the next time?As an adviser for yearbook and newspaper, I try to teach with examples. When a student/editor/designer is struggling with a page design or how to do a headline, I will pull examples from other publications or open several yearbooks to possibilities and ask "how are these different? how can you make these your own?" Usually, that idea creates an inspiration and the student can run with it. Not always, but usually, something good comes from it."
"I did attend a school where this girl committed suicide over her grades because her parents said regularly that she wasn't as smart as her older brother. That would be a worst-case scenario. I hope that this is the exception not a regular occurrence."
"College is necessary for today's world. Going to the 'best' college is a great opportunity if you can get in. Every dog has his day. If you do not get into a college, make the best of the choice you do attend. Sometimes your choices will surprise you and make you appreciate life in a much more positive way. Big schools aren't necessarily the answer. Some small colleges have more opportunities and better real life experience. I had a student who was waitlisted at 4 schools where I would have thought she was a shoe-in. She ended up attended a great school that was closer to home and was her 'back up' She loves this school and has no regrets."
