I work as a teacher, and I fear that kids are getting dumber...?

Question

...try as I might to encourage literacy and numeracy with my grade sevens, they are perpetually rude, unprepared, clueless, and just plain duh. I love teaching and I enjoy my job, but I worry for the future. Do you feel it is:
- uninvolved parents
- technology (instant gratification)
- more learning disabilities
- allergies
- aliens..lol, jk. Thanks!

Answer 1

I went to a private school in England in the 80s and left in the early 90s. Living now in America it does seem to me that there is a complacency among many when it comes to knowledge. You'll see Jay Leno stopping people in the streets and asking them who the President is, when 9/11 happened, or who the Vice President is. They have no clue, and just giggle. A recent study I read said that 11% of Americans aged 18-24 could not find America on a map of the world.

American news programs are all about sensationalist biased non-news items that focus more on celebrities than on real world news events.

In England where I grew up, you could talk to the average person in a bar and find them very well informed. In America (and in all fairness I do live in the South), the average American seems to be ill-informed, and has views determined pretty much exclusively by which political party they support. There is a lack of interest in current affairs, and virtually no interest in international news.

Among the younger generation I think that technology and instant gratification may be the main problem, coupled with poorly educated parents.

There is no doubt that America is slipping fast on the world stage when it comes to education. Last figure I saw placed America at 55th in the world for adult literacy. Pretty shocking for the richest nation on the planet.

I honestly think that there needs to be a radical rethink of the schooling system. Take out the over emphasis on sport. Stop the standardized testing and teaching to the test. Add a simple school uniform. Ban the use of cell phones except in an emergency situation. Invest more money in quality teachers and smaller schools.

If America does not take education more seriously, there is trouble ahead.

Answer 2

By grade seven, psychological and social developmental skills have been established significantly. This is not to say that the children cannot be taught, simply that the process of their previous development (or lack thereof) must be taken into consideration. Also, educational motivation comes primarily from example. In other words, people learn primarily because of their desire to acquire the knowledge. Those who want to learn to play the guitar, for example, fundamentally orient their thinking to accomodate the process by which they will acquire the guitar-playing skills: patience, repetition, muscular coordination, timing. Also, a student's academic progress is intimately tied to their social and psychological environment. Factors outside of the school, especially for prolonged periods, can hinder a person's ability to implement the skills necessary to 'learn'. Are the students more unprepared or rude, or is it the world that seems to be more unprepared, dumb, and rude? To worry about the future, when you are helping to create it, suggests that perhaps your own uncertainty is a factor in why your students are not responding.

Answer 3

I'm teacher as well, they are getting dumber. Educational socialization is a thing of the past! MTV, American Idol and sports has them feeling like they have a future where education isn't needed.

Poor CHUMPS! LOL, they never stop to think that numbers say they will never make it in those fields.

Parents, Technology, Over diagnosis of LD, allergies and Aliens will be their downfall.

Answer 4

Everyone does embarrassing things. I have developmental dyspraxia and you will not believe the amount of times I've done something SO STUPID like run in front of a bus (never done that exactly but I have attempted to get into a car while it was moving and nearly broke my leg and made 1000000 people in front of WALMART freak out) I get so embarrassed and sometimes even cry because I am so stupid but I just have to remember, NO ONE IS GOING TO REMEMBER THIS in the future. Yes I remember the walmart incident but only because i am thinking about it and answering this question and i'm sure if i asked my dad about it he wouldn't remember. it's a big deal for about 5 minutes and then something else happens and we move on. So do not be afraid to get on the bus. If the bus driver or a student mentions it just say you had a lapse in judgement and to move on!

Answer 5

The US used to have a very good standard of education. Now just about every nation has surpassed them. Why? Who benefits from the dumbing down of America?

Who is easier to control - educated or uneducated people?

Is it any coincidence that as people become more stupid in the US the govenment takes more and more control - more liberites with changing laws that have stood since the Constitution was wrote?

Answer 6

Teaching kids in the 21st Century is not going to be easy as they are having access and exposure to mass media and all sorts of attractions. Teachers need to match this challenging situation and adjust accordingly when they meet the youngsters in the classrooms. Well, it is easier said than done but there is no way out, is there?

Answer 7

I think parenting has a lot to do with it. They don't listen to their parents and their parents don't discipline them. So they think, "Why do I have to listen to some teacher?" I worry about the future a lot too. I have a lot of friends who are teachers and they say the same things you do. It really makes me sad. I think technology has a lot to do with it too. I couldn't believe we got to use calculators in junior high and high school. What's the point of doing these things if we are going to use a calculator. Also, standardized testing is a joke.

Answer 8

Well I'll say that the kids don't get dumber and dumber but they r just looking for F U N.
I am a kid 2 and I know that we're always looking something that's new for us.....
Just figure a way 2 make them listen 2 u.......

Answer 9

They were saying the same thing 50+ years ago when I was in Grade 7.

Answer 10

yeah, we are getting dumber.... I think that it's the technology (what's instant gratification?). It allows us to cheat and get better grades than having to actually take out a textbook and study. (ahem, yahoo answers)