I started to write a manifesto to parents informing them that their children were feral, but I thought better of it. If they don’t know their children are feral by now, they don’t want to know.
Why my attitude you ask? Well, in our lovely new library we have sectionals on wheels, wheels that can be locked. We can place these together like pieces of a pie to form seating circles, or snakes, or even the number eight. I usually walk the floor during breaks, talking with students and just keeping an eye on things, but today, my lovely aide was away ill and so I was solo and needed to be at the front desk during break. I turned to see one student lift one of the sectionals (large enough to seat three year 8 students) over his head and proceed to walk through the mass of students in the library. I ordered him to cease and desist, as well as to leave the library immediately. He blinked at me, stunned that his behaviour was not tolerated.
Earlier in the day I discovered that an infloor outlet that allows students to plug their computers in to recharge had been vandalised. Not only had the metal flip lid that sits flush with the floor been ripped off, but the cables inside had been cut, possibly with a pair of scissors. The IT guys declared it an electrical hazard. This would have taken some concerted effort and was probably executed in front of a number of other students. (We all know whom I would like to execute…)
At the beginning of the year, the students were in awe of the library and treated it with respect, but just like their attitude to other things at school, their respect is waning. Short attention spans to everything syndrome.
I gave my class a period of free reading in the library today also, and several of them acted as though I was punishing them. One or two were obviously angry that I expected them to sit quietly and read. My criteria was that they could read anything, be it fiction, nonfiction, graphic novel, picture book, magazine or newspaper, but the vast majority were affronted that I expected them to do individual silent reading. Easiest class all day, I argued. Not impressed, Miss.
So another day of having my worst fears confirmed that we are going to hell in a hand basket. I am also wondering if they are so feral and defiant at home, or do they just save it up for school? I don’t for one moment believe that this behaviour is only exhibited in the library, other teachers have confirmed my fears that it happens in the classroom, and to look at the amount of litter in the school yard, despite a rubbish bin every 5 metres, in the school yard as well.
Here we are so concerned about climate change for the sake of future generations, and the majority of them appear not to give a care! They litter, deface and destroy with monotonous regularity. They appear to appreciate nothing, not $2million dollar libraries, lap tops handed to them for a fraction of the cost of buying one, or landscaped gardens for their pleasure and relaxation.
Am I wrong? Have I missed something? Do they in fact appreciate something, anything; or have we created a generation with an outsized sense of entitlement? If so, what happens when they have to provide for themselves? What happens when they have to provide it for others, be it ageing parents or their own children? Can there be a happy ending?
I think every generation goes through the same thing. Teenagers that have not yet learned, truly; what they have and what it means to work hard for something. They still mostly live in their protected bubbles with no care for anyone or anything else. Most I think will grow up, and branch out into likeable working adults who find themselves talking about the kids today and how they represent what the would is coming too.
I can clearly remember back to my teenage days as I hung out with my groups usually from church and we would be doing nothing except walking around talking and laughing. Yet this mere act would bring true hostility out of adults. They would follow us and tell us to leave. Nervous they we were going to steal from their establishments. We could not talk in parkinglots without the police being called. Now I’m the one following teens around my store, keeping my eyes on their hands to make sure they don’t reach out and grab…
I can remember my dad tellinge about how the adults in his age thought and did the exact same thing. So really, teens being teens will always happen, and for the most part, because of this; adults have stay on their toes knowing that not all teens are just hanging out with friends, talking and joking…
Then again with the world so connected as one, and more and more teens trying to make their names known. It seems teens are getting worse with each passing generation. Or maybe now that we can see it all on YouTube, not just what is happening directly around us; it just seems that way?
My friends and i were such innocents, the worst we ever did was sneak into a bar when we were under age, and maybe have one drink! I think the cult of celebrity is dumbing our children down.
With respect, this is all about leadership.
Your Principal, Head Teacher, CEO or whatever title they’ve given is to blame here. And ‘blame’ is a good word here. This is their patch, their responsibility, the reason they pull in such an obscenely high salary. The ethos of any institution is set by it’s leader. Yes teens are changing but it’s up to the bloke in the biggest chair to stand up and sort things out. Your facility sounds plush (floor plugs and moveable furniture, cool) and s/he can’t sit back in their ivory tower and huff and puff about the the youth of today.
Go to the top. Tell on them.
Yes, several teachers have felt that the excuse of “at least they are at school” is not enough for justifying low standards.
The behavior of kids reflects that of their parents, I believe. My parents were avid readers and treating books and libraries well came naturally to me. Both my husband and I are maniacal readers, and our daughter surpasses us in her respect for books. We have her enrolled in a rather expensive library in our town, and there is nothing she loves more than a visit to it. In fact, anytime we tell her, let’s go out somewhere, she says, “lets go to British council library”. I am very proud of it, as you can make out.
I don’t think her love for books will wane in her teens (she is eight now). She has been in love with books ever since she was six months old. Not all kids are like that, though. That’s what makes a librarian’s life complicated.
I agree with you, I think parenting is often absent these days. Parents busy with careers, the idea that we must maintain a solo life as well as a family life (me time) all combine to make the kids the losers. Parents don’t read , and often don’t read with their children and all are the poorer for it.
Hang in there. Fight the good fight. I assure you the children are actually far worse at home…
Knowing some of the homes our students come from, it is no surprise that they are the way they are. Some of them I know have never had a chance since the day they were born.
It’s possible that the students who dislike free reading time aren’t used to reading for pleasure, or may take no pleasure in reading at all, especially if they have a disability. My brother, who is dyslexic, struggles to read a letter from his insurance company or a simple newspaper article. He will read statements full of bureaucratic bogwash at work because he has to, but I wonder how much he really understands. At any rate, these students may require being assigned to a certain publication in order to get through the free-reading time. Some kids need more guidance than others, in spite of their rebellious “you try and make me do it!”
As for the damage to the floor outlet, that’s damage to school property and should be referred to the administration, whose responsibility is to enforce the rule of law on campus. It does make you want to grab the little miscreant and put his fingers into the socket: but you wonder what sort of anger makes a child do something like that.
If I know the student has a reading problem such as being dyslexic, I allow them to listen to audio books. My observation is that their attention spans are much shorter than the previous generations, I assume due to all the media that we engage in now. It is a major effort to get them to concentrate for a full 10 minutes let allow a whole period or 50 minutes!
Every day there is something I see or read that makes me glad I never had kids. Thanks for providing today’s edition.
And you work at a private school, correct? Not a super-classy ivy walled school, but still not in the public school system? Just think of what goes on there.
Yes it is a private school, but has the lowest fees in the region. We get the kids where there might be multiple step parents, or single parents, or parents with drinking problems. A lot are indigenous or refugees from Africa, and a large number of Maori from New Zealand (New Zealanders flock to Australia as Mexicans flock to USA) and others from various Pacific Islands, so lots of cultural issues. A government run school is way worse, there you could get punched at any time.
When I was a teen, I moved from a lower income area to a much higher one. The school in the higher income area was disgusting – no one had any respect for anything.
I have a online adult friend, probably in her mid/late 20s, who just posted about reading a book for pleasure for the first time in her life. She was considering doing it again. Being someone who’s read for pleasure since I could read, not doing so just baffles me.
What worries me the most are the kids who have the “helicopter parents” – always hovering and making sure their kid never has to do anything or experience anything negative… EVER. How are those kids going to manage in the world once their parents are gone? Hell, how will they ever hold a normal job if their parents aren’t there to do their work for them?
They’ll get fired … or they’ll sit around at “Occupy” protests …
I think it will be interesting to see what happens with employers in the future considering that no one wants to train anyone anymore.
So true, Leandadll.
Daughter1 teaches at a very elite school and the kids bully the teachers because they know Dad will bully the admin and buy their way out of it all. At least at my school I know I would have the backing of admin… I think.
Or your stick!
Kids are so spoiled these days!
The destruction of school property is just wrong!
parents will be the first to say: ‘not my child’
You must have patience of super powers!
I just assumed that if you came from a lower socio economic level and if your were provided with things you didn’t have such as a lap top, then you would appreciate it, but it almost the opposite, as though they need to abuse what they have been given. They appreciate nothing, and I guess it come from the fact that their parents have not ever shown them how to appreciate anything.
I cannot recall this sort of vandalism occurring in libraries when I was a kid. We respected them as the ultimate place of learning. I find your experience really discouraging. Slightly off-topic…..I hear on the news this morning our new State Govt. is planning on naming and shaming juvenile offenders instead of allowing them to hide behind all the protective legislation,
Good move. Next I want the Premier to allow FD to bring her corrective stick into the library.
I fear our Premier and I will never agree… and my corrective stick would love to be let free in the parliament annex right now. Earlier this year some indigenous teenagers stole some luxury cars from our suburb and went one a three hour police chase around Brisbane, and I read that one got 12 hours of community service and instructed to attend “yarning story circles” with their elders. I am very cynical about the results of that one… no real consequences.
On my college campus, they just built a huge, beautiful conference building two years ago (which I will now be graduating in next week!), and at its dedication we were warned not to feel “entitled” and to appreciate the beautiful campus where we were able to receive our education. I always remembered that.These kids who are cutting electrical wires never had to work in a day in their lives, and I bet they have no idea how much it will cost to replace, nor do they understand how privileged they are. (And you already know all of this.) But there are good kids out there. I mean, I turned out alright, and I haven’t been an adult for long, really. But I admit, current society is more about what someone else can do for you rather than what you can do for yourself.
First, congratulations on your graduation! Enjoy the moment as you have earned it.
The thing that keeps teachers going is that there are great kids out there and moments with them that make it all worth while. There is no better moment for me than when a student walks up to the desk to borrow a book and declares that it is the first book they have ever borrowed for themselves (not a set text). That is what it is all about. I know that I may only provide a life defining moment for one or two students, but if that is so, the result might flow through future generations, and I don’t think any teacher can ask for any more than that from life!
Can see how that would get you down, FD. I did my prac in a low socio economic area and the kids there loved the library. The librarian had a policy of ordering in any book they requested. She said some of them had never had a book bought for them in their lives and it was a great way to get them reading and enthusiastic about books. These was a few years ago now though, ie, before the internet had become quite so all-pervasive. Wonder what they would be like now.
I do the same, if they ask for a book I order it in and make a point of reserving it for them. I have some students who are borrowing several books a week. Others act like I am handing them a poisonous snake if i try and suggest a book to them. I just get really angry when they upend the large hand crafted wood coffee table in the sofa area for no reason than stupidity. I talk to them about inside behaviour and outside behaviour… before I throw them out!
Yes, that really does suck.