What has happened to the world's teens, why so angry?

Question

Why can't I just teach them in class without having to spend most of the lesson on discipline? How do we overcome this?

Answer 1

Great question! I'm not convinced that what we witness today is not a result of our own selfishness and self righteousness.

When I was a teen (long time ago) insulting a teacher was worth a trip to the principals office and usually ended up in bending over to receive a swat. Today that is unimaginable! I also remember being on the street in Los Angeles having a citizen pick me up by the collar for not holding the door open for his wife at a restaurant.

Things have changed that's for sure but, we can't give up. I know we can't return to the old days so we have to get smarter... When my kids out wit me or attempt to get under my skin with their logic, I gather all my mental strength and go at them with what appears to be nonchalant response but cutting deep with thought. If I see the look of thought from them, I go in for the kill! At that point I know I made sense to them.

I believe that's the answer: Out wit, out play, out last. Like the TV series Survivor, we have to constantly be ready for the next level. As and educator, parent or citizen we need to stay ahead of the curve regarding these frisky creatures we call teens. We need to know what they see, hear and want. Only then can we develop a strategic plan to seize the moment and show them the correct way.

As a teacher, you are probably one of the most important factors in their life lessons. Don't Give UP! It will be worth it!

Answer 2

Personally i think its because they have no discipline at home. I have a friend who was a teacher, he used to love his job but in the end he left because instead of having maybe one disruptive child in the class it ended up being the majority.The kids knew that there was little he could do in terms of punishment, they knew they had the upper hand. He would ask someone to leave the class and they would refuse saying "you can't make me.if you touch me i will sue you. " There was no way to physically remove a child from the classroom without some kind of retribution. I am not in favour of physical punishment but teachers need to be able to control the children in some way.Kids don't respect their teachers,probably as they aren't taught respect at home. I think a large part of the problem is because a lot of parents spend a lot of time at work and not enough time at home educating their children, teaching them basic things. I heard in the news recently of a school that was taking time every day to show primary children how to brush their teeth! I'm all for oral hygeine but surely that is a parents responsibility, not the schools. Also the percentage of kids that can't use a knife and fork at 6 years old is quite high...i mean what exactly are the parents teaching??It seems as though a lot of parents are expecting schools to educate their children in every way and taking no responsibility them selves.
Teenagers are always going to be a bit stroppy and difficult but if they have had no parental guidance in their earlier days its no wonder they are getting out of hand, in fact most kids welcome a bit of discipline and some rules.
Sorry to rant but it makes me livid!!

Answer 3

you are talking about the usa,because if you go around the world the countries with the higher position in education they have a good discipline at class,the point is not tofeel sorry,it is to do something,those countries use to take a real emphasis in the teaching career,while in the usa to be a teacher is not to serious by the own teachers,they are worriest about the union etc... than to teach,and if we make some test to these teachers they have not knowledge like the teachers of the others countries,that is a shame!the way that the teachers and students are interactting in the usa is not professional.

Answer 4

No discipline at home means no discipline in school, parents are a BIG cause of this problem. That and the behaviour in the streets. If they can do what they want at home and this namby pamby government lets them run wild with no punishment what chance have teachers got at schools. Discipline begins in the home, and benefits all of society.

Answer 5

Are teenagers really angrier, or have we, (society) just given them a forum to express their anger, which I think is more to the point.
Like many other issues that were swept under the carpet several generations back, (like wife abuse, and substance abuse in many religious backgrounds), it has become more socially acceptable to express anger, In fact many are told not to keep their anger in.
The problem with this is that while being told to express emotions, boundaries must also be articulated so people, young and old alike,
remember they are times and places to do such.
A class room is not the proper place, nor is the schoolyard where one might be inclined to use expressing emotion to bully or hurt another person.

Answer 6

I can't speak about the world only the US. Teens feel because of technology and a media culture aimed at them, that adults are incompetent and not cool. They can buy what they want, when they want, and parents don't know what the kids are talking about or how to use the equipment. So teens get a feeling of superiority that they never used to be able to have.

Answer 7

Talk to them about this as a friend, explain it to them and they will respect you for it. This is the case in my school, we have more respect for teachers that are friendly to us and guide (This does not mean slacking of and doing nothing, the material is covered but if the student has descipline problems you must teach them not to be that way)How can you respect someone that you fear?
I go to quite a good school though and the children aren't that bad so I'm not sure, but I think it's the case with all students.

Answer 8

Believe me ive met some angry kids the main reason some kids r angry is because of parental problems or they have a younger or older sibling that is bettr than them so they treat other kids like trash i think its wrong and people should stop being jeaious.

Answer 9

Sadly until parents take an active role in raising their kids and teaching manners, publicly funded school systems will only serve as fancy day-care centers for spotty little anarchists.

Answer 10

Right Sir,
Being a stuident myself the best way is to be funny,
kids hate angry,boring,grumpy teachers.
Thats it really!
Bee well just don't turn into one,
Will(crazysalted)