Generation Gaps

Waski_the_Squirrel

Waski_the_Squirrel

Resident of the least visited state in the nation.
I mentioned in an earlier thread that my school had an inservice with Peg Portscheller (who is wonderful). One of the things she talked about has really stuck with me. I'm 36 (which becomes important in a bit).

She started by discussing the kindergarten class. They will all graduate in 2025. 86% of the jobs they will have haven't even been invented yet. Then she started talking about the generations among our teaching staff and their differences. I'm part of Generation X, the last generation to grow up without the internet, cell phones, and other technology. Supposedly, I bridge the gap between technology and no technology. Other generations she mentioned included the Baby Boomers, the Traditionalists and the newest generation of teachers: Generation Y. Generation Y is the first generation to grow up in a world with ubiquitous internet, cell phones, and technology.

What she noted was how entirely different their brains are from those generations which came before, even more different than the generations which came before.

And she asked a question: are we teaching the new generation of kids for our world for their world or for ours?
 
Wow Waski!! Sort of puts things in perspective!! Technology continues to move ahead at what seems light speed!!

I was shocked to learn some students may not be taught to write in cursive, of course I'm part of the baby boomer generation so I just didn't understand why. This puts it all in simple terms as to why cursive may not be necessary. Sounds like this speaker needs to talk to parents not just teachers!! And grandparents!!

I can remember my dad moaning about how computers were going to replace "workers", looks like he might have been on to something there. The man that he was however, not only did he learn to operate and write computer programs, he built computers, too!! He was an electronic technician and didn't let new technology stop him. He passed away in 1989 and was leaps and bounds ahead of most of his generation in learning.

We should all learn something new everyday!! Even us old farts!!

Thanks for sharing!!
 
Waski_the_Squirrel said:
I mentioned in an earlier thread that my school had an inservice with Peg Portscheller (who is wonderful). One of the things she talked about has really stuck with me. I'm 36 (which becomes important in a bit).

She started by discussing the kindergarten class. They will all graduate in 2025. 86% of the jobs they will have haven't even been invented yet. Then she started talking about the generations among our teaching staff and their differences. I'm part of Generation X, the last generation to grow up without the internet, cell phones, and other technology. Supposedly, I bridge the gap between technology and no technology. Other generations she mentioned included the Baby Boomers, the Traditionalists and the newest generation of teachers: Generation Y. Generation Y is the first generation to grow up in a world with ubiquitous internet, cell phones, and technology.

What she noted was how entirely different their brains are from those generations which came before, even more different than the generations which came before.

And she asked a question: are we teaching the new generation of kids for our world for their world or for ours?
Click to expand...

I believe most schools are trying to teach for theirs, but what happens is that they either do not know exactly how to do that or get opposition from parents that like the way it was. For now we do have Gen X (I am there too) and Baby Boomers still in charge of the systems. I believe in a few more years things will be different as more Baby Boomers retire and the Gen X and Y start overhauling things.

My son never learned cursive and spelling was way down on the list of things needed to be taught. (You do not need cursive, and he really doesn't, and you have spell check for everything, which he does) He does all his homework online and his teachers now do not accept hard copies of papers. You have to submit them online and have a copy on your thumb drive in case they need to look at the paper in class. :)) A bit different from when I was in school.

On the other hand I do remember my parents stating things about my teachers and all of us kids and that MTV! (Gosh I miss real MTV) Many of my classmates went into computers and internet that when we started school were jobs and things that really did not exists. I believe gaps have always been there (though in the last 20 years the gap did widen a bit with technology changing at such a fast pace) and our good educators will adapt to meet the needs.

It does make you think! Sounds like you really enjoyed her coming there to share her knowledge.
 
Corporate America is more involved in public schools that many people realize. There is both good and bad to that. The good being that they are helping to steer the curriculum toward future technology and labor needs; the bad that there is too much influence from them on products and social matters.

As much of a challenge as this is, I think the bigger problem is still just getting kids to stay in school and to learn basic literacy. It's pretty shocking how many young people are functionally illiterate and incapable of what should be basic tasks. Though there's things educators could do to help this, I see it as more of a failure of parents and society in general. Regardless, we must do better.
 
Guard Dad said:
Corporate America is more involved in public schools that many people realize. There is both good and bad to that. The good being that they are helping to steer the curriculum toward future technology and labor needs; the bad that there is too much influence from them on products and social matters.

As much of a challenge as this is, I think the bigger problem is still just getting kids to stay in school and to learn basic literacy. It's pretty shocking how many young people are functionally illiterate and incapable of what should be basic tasks. Though there's things educators could do to help this, I see it as more of a failure of parents and society in general. Regardless, we must do better.
Click to expand...

Educators, Parents and Grandparents have a tough job. We must think back to the time when kids that went to school had parents that couldn't even read, they could not possibly help them. Teaching today is much like it was then, however I do see many 40 and 50 somethings staying on top of technology, it's just hard to give up our nostalgic way of learning.
 
ShoeDiva said:
I believe most schools are trying to teach for theirs, but what happens is that they either do not know exactly how to do that or get opposition from parents that like the way it was. For now we do have Gen X (I am there too) and Baby Boomers still in charge of the systems. I believe in a few more years things will be different as more Baby Boomers retire and the Gen X and Y start overhauling things.

My son never learned cursive and spelling was way down on the list of things needed to be taught. (You do not need cursive, and he really doesn't, and you have spell check for everything, which he does) He does all his homework online and his teachers now do not accept hard copies of papers. You have to submit them online and have a copy on your thumb drive in case they need to look at the paper in class. :)) A bit different from when I was in school.

On the other hand I do remember my parents stating things about my teachers and all of us kids and that MTV! (Gosh I miss real MTV) Many of my classmates went into computers and internet that when we started school were jobs and things that really did not exists. I believe gaps have always been there (though in the last 20 years the gap did widen a bit with technology changing at such a fast pace) and our good educators will adapt to meet the needs.

It does make you think! Sounds like you really enjoyed her coming there to share her knowledge.
Click to expand...

I respectfully disagree with the opinion that cursive and spelling are not essential subjects.
 
honeybunny said:
ShoeDiva said:
I believe most schools are trying to teach for theirs, but what happens is that they either do not know exactly how to do that or get opposition from parents that like the way it was. For now we do have Gen X (I am there too) and Baby Boomers still in charge of the systems. I believe in a few more years things will be different as more Baby Boomers retire and the Gen X and Y start overhauling things.

My son never learned cursive and spelling was way down on the list of things needed to be taught. (You do not need cursive, and he really doesn't, and you have spell check for everything, which he does) He does all his homework online and his teachers now do not accept hard copies of papers. You have to submit them online and have a copy on your thumb drive in case they need to look at the paper in class. :)) A bit different from when I was in school.

On the other hand I do remember my parents stating things about my teachers and all of us kids and that MTV! (Gosh I miss real MTV) Many of my classmates went into computers and internet that when we started school were jobs and things that really did not exists. I believe gaps have always been there (though in the last 20 years the gap did widen a bit with technology changing at such a fast pace) and our good educators will adapt to meet the needs.

It does make you think! Sounds like you really enjoyed her coming there to share her knowledge.
Click to expand...

I respectfully disagree with the opinion that cursive and spelling are not essential subjects.
Click to expand...

I can see the need for cursive going the way of the 8-Track, but I agree that we need to keep spelling in the curriculum.
 
honeybunny said:
ShoeDiva said:
I believe most schools are trying to teach for theirs, but what happens is that they either do not know exactly how to do that or get opposition from parents that like the way it was. For now we do have Gen X (I am there too) and Baby Boomers still in charge of the systems. I believe in a few more years things will be different as more Baby Boomers retire and the Gen X and Y start overhauling things.

My son never learned cursive and spelling was way down on the list of things needed to be taught. (You do not need cursive, and he really doesn't, and you have spell check for everything, which he does) He does all his homework online and his teachers now do not accept hard copies of papers. You have to submit them online and have a copy on your thumb drive in case they need to look at the paper in class. :)) A bit different from when I was in school.

On the other hand I do remember my parents stating things about my teachers and all of us kids and that MTV! (Gosh I miss real MTV) Many of my classmates went into computers and internet that when we started school were jobs and things that really did not exists. I believe gaps have always been there (though in the last 20 years the gap did widen a bit with technology changing at such a fast pace) and our good educators will adapt to meet the needs.

It does make you think! Sounds like you really enjoyed her coming there to share her knowledge.
Click to expand...

I respectfully disagree with the opinion that cursive and spelling are not essential subjects.
Click to expand...

I am just stating a fact. My son was not taught cursive and the school did not think weekly spelling was needed. As of today, in college, he does not ever write in cursive and does use spell check for everything because he does not turn in paper. So essential as anyone (which I never stated my personal opinion) thinks it is, his teachers were correct, so far, in him not needing it. :dunno
 
Perhaps they don't need it for their classes, maybe that's part of why it now takes 5 years to earn a 4 year degree. :dunno

I think learning cursive and correct spelling is very necessary for job applications and interviews. I wouldn't be happy if my kids or grandkids couldn't read the US Constitution in it's original format.

If they aren't teaching cursive in school, they'd learn at home. My grandson is learning cursive in Paulding County Schools, he's in 5th grade and they started last year.

Should we stop teaching Math because we have calculators and computers??
 
naturegirl said:
Perhaps they don't need it for their classes, maybe that's part of why it now takes 5 years to earn a 4 year degree. :dunno

I think learning cursive and correct spelling is very necessary for job applications and interviews. I wouldn't be happy if my kids or grandkids couldn't read the US Constitution in it's original format.

If they aren't teaching cursive in school, they'd learn at home. My grandson is learning cursive in Paulding County Schools, he's in 5th grade and they started last year.

Should we stop teaching Math because we have calculators and computers??
Click to expand...
That is my concern as well. Just because some "expert" tells you this says hieroglyphic says this, does it really? I think that it is way too important that our kids can read cursive, not being able to could lead to a country we don't want for them.
 
naturegirl said:
Perhaps they don't need it for their classes, maybe that's part of why it now takes 5 years to earn a 4 year degree. :dunno

I think learning cursive and correct spelling is very necessary for job applications and interviews. I wouldn't be happy if my kids or grandkids couldn't read the US Constitution in it's original format.

If they aren't teaching cursive in school, they'd learn at home. My grandson is learning cursive in Paulding County Schools, he's in 5th grade and they started last year.

Should we stop teaching Math because we have calculators and computers??
Click to expand...
I see cursive writing becoming an art form instead of a daily practice by many. If you think about it, beautiful penmanship is really a craft to be mastered. It's a shame that people don't feel it's important to know how to write well, and beautifully, anymore. Can you imagine if the Declaration of Independence was written today...it'd be posted on FB, instead of written on parchment.
 
deewee said:
naturegirl said:
Perhaps they don't need it for their classes, maybe that's part of why it now takes 5 years to earn a 4 year degree. :dunno

I think learning cursive and correct spelling is very necessary for job applications and interviews. I wouldn't be happy if my kids or grandkids couldn't read the US Constitution in it's original format.

If they aren't teaching cursive in school, they'd learn at home. My grandson is learning cursive in Paulding County Schools, he's in 5th grade and they started last year.

Should we stop teaching Math because we have calculators and computers??
Click to expand...
I see cursive writing becoming an art form instead of a daily practice by many. If you think about it, beautiful penmanship is really a craft to be mastered. It's a shame that people don't feel it's important to know how to write well, and beautifully, anymore. Can you imagine if the Declaration of Independence was written today...it'd be posted on FB, instead of written on parchment.
Click to expand...

Yes, wonder if it would have "b" instead of "be" or "4" instead of "for". lol

Yes it will be an art form, I have been complimented all my life on my cursive, I wanted it to be nice. I know I'm an OF and my priorities aren't the same as kid's are today. However, I'm pretty glad I had to listen to my old crotchety grandmas and grandpas. I learned a lot from them. Guess it's going to be a grandparent, grandkid session. We get to teach the grandkids cursive instead of how to make flour! Wooooo Hoooooo!!!
 
naturegirl said:
Perhaps they don't need it for their classes, maybe that's part of why it now takes 5 years to earn a 4 year degree. :dunno

I think learning cursive and correct spelling is very necessary for job applications and interviews. I wouldn't be happy if my kids or grandkids couldn't read the US Constitution in it's original format.

If they aren't teaching cursive in school, they'd learn at home. My grandson is learning cursive in Paulding County Schools, he's in 5th grade and they started last year.

Should we stop teaching Math because we have calculators and computers??
Click to expand...

My son can read (and recite most) the Constitution in the original form. Why would you need cursive for a job application (um, most say specifically, please print) or an interview. Are employers now holding up cards in cursive for you to read instead of speaking with the applicant?

Your grandkids teachers can be doing it outside the norm, or with all the changes Georgia likes to make it could be back part of the curriculum. If they are teaching it great, if not, I do not believe it will handicap the kids. Mine does not write it, but can read it with out any problem, and I would go out on a limb and say that many are like him.

That last comment I am not even answering. :huh
 
deewee said:
naturegirl said:
Perhaps they don't need it for their classes, maybe that's part of why it now takes 5 years to earn a 4 year degree. :dunno

I think learning cursive and correct spelling is very necessary for job applications and interviews. I wouldn't be happy if my kids or grandkids couldn't read the US Constitution in it's original format.

If they aren't teaching cursive in school, they'd learn at home. My grandson is learning cursive in Paulding County Schools, he's in 5th grade and they started last year.

Should we stop teaching Math because we have calculators and computers??
Click to expand...
I see cursive writing becoming an art form instead of a daily practice by many. If you think about it, beautiful penmanship is really a craft to be mastered. It's a shame that people don't feel it's important to know how to write well, and beautifully, anymore. Can you imagine if the Declaration of Independence was written today...it'd be posted on FB, instead of written on parchment.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup
 
While watching that video, I learned that we need to send LOTS of birth control to China & India. :))
 
naturegirl said:
Perhaps they don't need it for their classes, maybe that's part of why it now takes 5 years to earn a 4 year degree. :dunno

I think learning cursive and correct spelling is very necessary for job applications and interviews. I wouldn't be happy if my kids or grandkids couldn't read the US Constitution in it's original format.

If they aren't teaching cursive in school, they'd learn at home. My grandson is learning cursive in Paulding County Schools, he's in 5th grade and they started last year.

Should we stop teaching Math because we have calculators and computers??
Click to expand...

Just so you know, I have NEVER had to solve a calculus equation outside of a math class. NOR has dissecting a frog been an essential part of my adult life. :whistle
 
LisaC said:
naturegirl said:
Perhaps they don't need it for their classes, maybe that's part of why it now takes 5 years to earn a 4 year degree. :dunno

I think learning cursive and correct spelling is very necessary for job applications and interviews. I wouldn't be happy if my kids or grandkids couldn't read the US Constitution in it's original format.

If they aren't teaching cursive in school, they'd learn at home. My grandson is learning cursive in Paulding County Schools, he's in 5th grade and they started last year.

Should we stop teaching Math because we have calculators and computers??
Click to expand...

Just so you know, I have NEVER had to solve a calculus equation outside of a math class. NOR has dissecting a frog been an essential part of my adult life. :whistle
Click to expand...

So we learned all that for nothing!! :tapfoot2 Stupid teachers, trying to teach us that stuff!! The nerve of them. :taunt
 
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