Forums > Social Discussion > Why are teenagers lazy and apathetic thinkers?
Login/Join to ParticipateBRONZE Member
Watcher of 80s cartoons
665 posts
Location: Chepstow & Bristol, United Kingdom
Watcher of 80s cartoons
665 posts
Location: Chepstow & Bristol, United Kingdom
Posted:
I am getting sick to death of teenagers wanting everything to be done for them. Why do they not think for themselves? Why is that they think everything should be spoon fed to them as though they have none of their own opinions? Why do they not care about anything?
It was not so long ago that I was a teenager myself and I remember being interested in environmental issues, I had various hobbies, I enjoyed certain subjects etc. But more importantly I had my own opinions and so to did my fellow classmates. At the moment though it seems like the teenagers I am teaching have no concept of the world. They lack basic general knowledge and they seem to be incapable of linking one principle with another. They do not have basic arguing skills. Consequently I find them rather dull.
Are my frustrations due to a prescribed education administered in the schools they went to before they got to college? Is it somehow my fault? What the hell is up with these people? How on Earth are they going to survive if they don’t have basic communication skills?
Any teenagers who read this please start to think for yourselves if at present you are relying on others to do your thinking for you. If anyone has answers to these questions please let me know.
I am getting sick to death of teenagers wanting everything to be done for them. Why do they not think for themselves? Why is that they think everything should be spoon fed to them as though they have none of their own opinions? Why do they not care about anything?
It was not so long ago that I was a teenager myself and I remember being interested in environmental issues, I had various hobbies, I enjoyed certain subjects etc. But more importantly I had my own opinions and so to did my fellow classmates. At the moment though it seems like the teenagers I am teaching have no concept of the world. They lack basic general knowledge and they seem to be incapable of linking one principle with another. They do not have basic arguing skills. Consequently I find them rather dull.
Are my frustrations due to a prescribed education administered in the schools they went to before they got to college? Is it somehow my fault? What the hell is up with these people? How on Earth are they going to survive if they don’t have basic communication skills?
Any teenagers who read this please start to think for yourselves if at present you are relying on others to do your thinking for you. If anyone has answers to these questions please let me know.
>What do you think about the state of the Earth?
>I'm optimistic.
>So why do you look so sad?
>I'm not sure that my optimism is justified.
SILVER Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
4,172 posts
Location: Hastings, United Kingdom
Carpal \'Tunnel
4,172 posts
Location: Hastings, United Kingdom
Posted:
GCSE's are BORING! Im what, 8? weeks away from finishing mandatory education, and its just so dull!
Courseowrk is just so goddamn easy. I know what to put here and which bits to put there so I can get A's. dosn;t mean i do it though. Why? Im bored out of my tiny little mind writting 'therefors' and 'thus' and 'this happens becasue'
I'd say around 50% of 'under achieving' students are jsut bored of the subjects.
You do you coursework, get it handed back, improve it, get it handed back, improve it...ect and this happends around 4 or 5 times. Its just so dull!
Oh, and light at the end of the tunnel because of the citezenship curriculum? have you ever taught one of those lessons?! Maybe its the teachers, maybe its me, maybe its the $hitty material we have to be 'taught'. But I havn't learnt a SINGLE thing in those lessons that i didn't already know.
And your telling me I can't argue a point? The majoraty of us can, but the course material is just so bloody dull its infuriating!!
*gets down off of her high horse and tapes her mouth shut*
GCSE's are BORING! Im what, 8? weeks away from finishing mandatory education, and its just so dull!
Courseowrk is just so goddamn easy. I know what to put here and which bits to put there so I can get A's. dosn;t mean i do it though. Why? Im bored out of my tiny little mind writting 'therefors' and 'thus' and 'this happens becasue'
I'd say around 50% of 'under achieving' students are jsut bored of the subjects.
You do you coursework, get it handed back, improve it, get it handed back, improve it...ect and this happends around 4 or 5 times. Its just so dull!
Oh, and light at the end of the tunnel because of the citezenship curriculum? have you ever taught one of those lessons?! Maybe its the teachers, maybe its me, maybe its the $hitty material we have to be 'taught'. But I havn't learnt a SINGLE thing in those lessons that i didn't already know.
And your telling me I can't argue a point? The majoraty of us can, but the course material is just so bloody dull its infuriating!!
*gets down off of her high horse and tapes her mouth shut*
BRONZE Member
Watcher of 80s cartoons
665 posts
Location: Chepstow & Bristol, United Kingdom
Watcher of 80s cartoons
665 posts
Location: Chepstow & Bristol, United Kingdom
Posted:
Yep - there is a problem with citizenship lessons and that problem is a lot of schools don't take it seriously enough and teachers in these schools don't teach it properly since they don't see the point since students don't get a GCSE out of it. Are you at school to get GCSEs or to get an education?
As a teacher of Environmental Science citizenship lessons come very easy to me – I haven’t taught many but in the lessons I have taught the students have written petitions and gone to protests for their homework (I have been very careful with the protests I recommend).
Coursework should not be handed back once it is submitted – if your school was found to be doing that then you may all need to submit a whole new piece of coursework.
Its ashame that your school seems to be just teaching the stuff you need for your exams – you’re missing out. It wasn’t like that 6 years ago when I was at school and that is due pressures on schools by things such as league tables etc.
“…And your telling me I can't argue a point?...” No - that wasn’t what I said. I said that the majority of students leaving schools do not have arguing skills. It would seem that some of the ones who show potential do not critically assess the information they are given and so take one point – misinterpret it and then show offence.
If these people could balance their arguments; reflect on other people's viewpoints and then support their own arguments with other sources of information then I would say that they can argue!
Yep - there is a problem with citizenship lessons and that problem is a lot of schools don't take it seriously enough and teachers in these schools don't teach it properly since they don't see the point since students don't get a GCSE out of it. Are you at school to get GCSEs or to get an education?
As a teacher of Environmental Science citizenship lessons come very easy to me – I haven’t taught many but in the lessons I have taught the students have written petitions and gone to protests for their homework (I have been very careful with the protests I recommend).
Coursework should not be handed back once it is submitted – if your school was found to be doing that then you may all need to submit a whole new piece of coursework.
Its ashame that your school seems to be just teaching the stuff you need for your exams – you’re missing out. It wasn’t like that 6 years ago when I was at school and that is due pressures on schools by things such as league tables etc.
“…And your telling me I can't argue a point?...” No - that wasn’t what I said. I said that the majority of students leaving schools do not have arguing skills. It would seem that some of the ones who show potential do not critically assess the information they are given and so take one point – misinterpret it and then show offence.
If these people could balance their arguments; reflect on other people's viewpoints and then support their own arguments with other sources of information then I would say that they can argue!
>What do you think about the state of the Earth?
>I'm optimistic.
>So why do you look so sad?
>I'm not sure that my optimism is justified.
BRONZE Member
Watcher of 80s cartoons
665 posts
Location: Chepstow & Bristol, United Kingdom
Watcher of 80s cartoons
665 posts
Location: Chepstow & Bristol, United Kingdom
Posted:
A-levels are the traditional qualifications needed to get into university. But they are out dated - they do not reflect upon real life i.e. they are overly academic. Some are changing, for instance the Salters Nuffiled Biology syllabus is very cool but most syllabi are very prescriptive. A chap call Tomlinson was employed by the government to assess the way in which education is delivered in the UK and his recommendation was to adapt the current system to an international bachelorium style. However, are present Education Minister – Ruth Kelly has said that this is all rubbish what the government need to do is make GCSEs and A-levels harder. It’s Ruth Kelly who is talking a load of rubbish! In fairness to her though she has risen to her position from nothing to a cabinet minister in about 7 months by doing what she was told so its for her benefit to mess the education system up even further.
A-levels are the traditional qualifications needed to get into university. But they are out dated - they do not reflect upon real life i.e. they are overly academic. Some are changing, for instance the Salters Nuffiled Biology syllabus is very cool but most syllabi are very prescriptive. A chap call Tomlinson was employed by the government to assess the way in which education is delivered in the UK and his recommendation was to adapt the current system to an international bachelorium style. However, are present Education Minister – Ruth Kelly has said that this is all rubbish what the government need to do is make GCSEs and A-levels harder. It’s Ruth Kelly who is talking a load of rubbish! In fairness to her though she has risen to her position from nothing to a cabinet minister in about 7 months by doing what she was told so its for her benefit to mess the education system up even further.
>What do you think about the state of the Earth?
>I'm optimistic.
>So why do you look so sad?
>I'm not sure that my optimism is justified.
SILVER Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
4,172 posts
Location: Hastings, United Kingdom
Carpal \'Tunnel
4,172 posts
Location: Hastings, United Kingdom
Posted:
I generally don't take offence at anything, and didn't at that, i'm sorry if it came across that way. I meant in general sort of kind of...thing
I'm at the end of my tether really when it comes to my current schooling, i get so angry i can't type straight (look at the spelling in my last post )
On another tangent I might dig up my thread on sex education and comment on the lack of it STILL
The point i was *trying* to get across (im kinda proving your point there arnt i
) is that..gah! i can't type this out. I'm never any good and getting my point across over the net.
Me thinks I'm gonna go to bed and think about what I need to say before I type it...
I generally don't take offence at anything, and didn't at that, i'm sorry if it came across that way. I meant in general sort of kind of...thing
I'm at the end of my tether really when it comes to my current schooling, i get so angry i can't type straight (look at the spelling in my last post
)On another tangent I might dig up my thread on sex education and comment on the lack of it STILL
The point i was *trying* to get across (im kinda proving your point there arnt i
) is that..gah! i can't type this out. I'm never any good and getting my point across over the net. Me thinks I'm gonna go to bed and think about what I need to say before I type it...
BRONZE Member
Watcher of 80s cartoons
665 posts
Location: Chepstow & Bristol, United Kingdom
Watcher of 80s cartoons
665 posts
Location: Chepstow & Bristol, United Kingdom
Posted:
A case study example - yippee
The sex education thread was good - I actually used that as research for one of my assignments.
And that's the other thing - students are too ready to give up
A case study example - yippee
The sex education thread was good - I actually used that as research for one of my assignments.
And that's the other thing - students are too ready to give up
>What do you think about the state of the Earth?
>I'm optimistic.
>So why do you look so sad?
>I'm not sure that my optimism is justified.
BRONZE Member
enthusiast
249 posts
Location: Exeter, United Kingdom
enthusiast
249 posts
Location: Exeter, United Kingdom
Posted:
I think if the A level student have only been doing the course for 6 months you should give them a chance.
When i did psychology we were encouraged to debate in class and didnt. Maybe coz we were uncomfortable with it. But the teacher incouraged us, mixed up our seating plan so we didnt stay in the same place and speak to the same people. He did more group things to encourage us to argue points.
I think you should encourage them a bit more but give them a bit of time. My class werent comfortabley arguing until much later on.
I think the system should be changed. Classes should be much more involved and pro active. I hate the spoon feeding approach. Before i got to college i was terrified of having to learn on my own figure out what to write down and what to ignore basically having no imput from teachers. But it was exactly the same as GCSEs. Teacher wrote on the board i copied. Which is terrible! As it got closer to my exams though i did start doing things of my own accord. I did backround research and looked for other sides of the same stories.
The only exception to this was my media course, we were left to our own devises. Especially for our censorship and personal projects. Which was great.
This thread makes me think im apathetic though.
I dont argue because i hate confrontation of any kind. It freaks me out. Even innocent debates. Now im out of college though i do think formyself alot more. It takes the real world to knock sense into you i think. I have things like insurance to deal with and voting.... :O 
I think if the A level student have only been doing the course for 6 months you should give them a chance.
When i did psychology we were encouraged to debate in class and didnt. Maybe coz we were uncomfortable with it. But the teacher incouraged us, mixed up our seating plan so we didnt stay in the same place and speak to the same people. He did more group things to encourage us to argue points.
I think you should encourage them a bit more but give them a bit of time. My class werent comfortabley arguing until much later on.
I think the system should be changed. Classes should be much more involved and pro active. I hate the spoon feeding approach. Before i got to college i was terrified of having to learn on my own figure out what to write down and what to ignore basically having no imput from teachers. But it was exactly the same as GCSEs. Teacher wrote on the board i copied. Which is terrible! As it got closer to my exams though i did start doing things of my own accord. I did backround research and looked for other sides of the same stories.
The only exception to this was my media course, we were left to our own devises. Especially for our censorship and personal projects. Which was great.
This thread makes me think im apathetic though.
I dont argue because i hate confrontation of any kind. It freaks me out. Even innocent debates. Now im out of college though i do think formyself alot more. It takes the real world to knock sense into you i think. I have things like insurance to deal with and voting.... :O BRONZE Member
Watcher of 80s cartoons
665 posts
Location: Chepstow & Bristol, United Kingdom
Watcher of 80s cartoons
665 posts
Location: Chepstow & Bristol, United Kingdom
Posted:
Cheers Facelessjoker - that's very insightful
If anyone's interested here is the link to the site for my Environmental Science group https://moodle.yeovil.ac.uk/course/enrol.php?id=134
the Enrolment Key is treehugger
Tell me what you think
Cheers Facelessjoker - that's very insightful
If anyone's interested here is the link to the site for my Environmental Science group https://moodle.yeovil.ac.uk/course/enrol.php?id=134
the Enrolment Key is treehugger
Tell me what you think
>What do you think about the state of the Earth?
>I'm optimistic.
>So why do you look so sad?
>I'm not sure that my optimism is justified.
BRONZE Member
Watcher of 80s cartoons
665 posts
Location: Chepstow & Bristol, United Kingdom
Watcher of 80s cartoons
665 posts
Location: Chepstow & Bristol, United Kingdom
Posted:
Right I need to get out of college - see you all later
Right I need to get out of college - see you all later
>What do you think about the state of the Earth?
>I'm optimistic.
>So why do you look so sad?
>I'm not sure that my optimism is justified.
BRONZE Member
Pooh-Bah
1,872 posts
Location: Canada
Pooh-Bah
1,872 posts
Location: Canada
Posted:
I'll be the first to admit I don't know anything about the English school system but Aimee just made the point I was thinking of,,,,spelling.
When I see a post on this site, riddled with spelling mistakes, and rife with internet shorthand I can't help but noticing it's usually a post by an English youth. ( please note the use of the word usually,,,not the word always, I wouldn't want to light the fluffy napalm fairy on fire again.) This site has a spell checker, and I wonder why if it's laziness or apathy that prevents some people from using it.
Teaching at the high school level is a VERY difficult job, a lot of the students don't want to be there and the teachers know it. Stick with it, and Aimee, get those A's if you can, because there's way worse things than being bored in a classroom,,,like cleaning hotel rooms for a living.
I'll be the first to admit I don't know anything about the English school system but Aimee just made the point I was thinking of,,,,spelling.
When I see a post on this site, riddled with spelling mistakes, and rife with internet shorthand I can't help but noticing it's usually a post by an English youth. ( please note the use of the word usually,,,not the word always, I wouldn't want to light the fluffy napalm fairy on fire again.) This site has a spell checker, and I wonder why if it's laziness or apathy that prevents some people from using it.
Teaching at the high school level is a VERY difficult job, a lot of the students don't want to be there and the teachers know it. Stick with it, and Aimee, get those A's if you can, because there's way worse things than being bored in a classroom,,,like cleaning hotel rooms for a living.
SILVER Member
Pooh-Bah
2,014 posts
Location: Galveston, TX, USA
Pooh-Bah
2,014 posts
Location: Galveston, TX, USA
Posted:
hmmm...you say there is a spell checker, stout, yet I can only see it if I opt to do the quick reply thing. When I hit reply on the right side of each post, I don't get that option. Thus, I've never actually used the spell checker since I never do the quick reply thingie at the bottom. I wonder why that is?
maybe I'll ask a question about that in Help.
hmmm...you say there is a spell checker, stout, yet I can only see it if I opt to do the quick reply thing. When I hit reply on the right side of each post, I don't get that option. Thus, I've never actually used the spell checker since I never do the quick reply thingie at the bottom. I wonder why that is?
maybe I'll ask a question about that in Help. BRONZE Member
Watcher of 80s cartoons
665 posts
Location: Chepstow & Bristol, United Kingdom
Watcher of 80s cartoons
665 posts
Location: Chepstow & Bristol, United Kingdom
Posted:
Composing in word then cut and paste helps me with my poor spelling.
Composing in word then cut and paste helps me with my poor spelling.
>What do you think about the state of the Earth?
>I'm optimistic.
>So why do you look so sad?
>I'm not sure that my optimism is justified.
SILVER Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
4,172 posts
Location: Hastings, United Kingdom
Carpal \'Tunnel
4,172 posts
Location: Hastings, United Kingdom
Posted:
Gelfling, should I happen to meet you personally I'd be glad to argue, and provide my own opinions on any subject you wish to choose!
Computers make it so hard for me to type what I'm trying to say
Stout, I have 5 GCSE's (the main qualifications gained in high school here in the UK) one obtained in yr7 the other 4 in yr10, I could quit school now and get into college with the qualifications I already have. But i'm not quitting, because I have a commitment to the other 9 exams im taking in June.
And should I ever choose to clean hotel rooms, or work in MacDoanlds, or be a Dustman for a living it would be because I want to, not because I was lazy in high school.
Gelfling, should I happen to meet you personally I'd be glad to argue, and provide my own opinions on any subject you wish to choose!
Computers make it so hard for me to type what I'm trying to say
Stout, I have 5 GCSE's (the main qualifications gained in high school here in the UK) one obtained in yr7 the other 4 in yr10, I could quit school now and get into college with the qualifications I already have. But i'm not quitting, because I have a commitment to the other 9 exams im taking in June.
And should I ever choose to clean hotel rooms, or work in MacDoanlds, or be a Dustman for a living it would be because I want to, not because I was lazy in high school.
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,638 posts
Location: Brum / Dorset / Fairy Land
3,638 posts
Location: Brum / Dorset / Fairy Land
Posted:
light me on fire again? I thought I did quite a good line in well thought out politely put views.
To illustrate this I beg to pose the question : Have you thought about the ration of British ('usually youths') to other users on this forum?
light me on fire again?
I thought I did quite a good line in well thought out politely put views.To illustrate this I beg to pose the question : Have you thought about the ration of British ('usually youths') to other users on this forum?
Geologists do it in the dirt................ 
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,638 posts
Location: Brum / Dorset / Fairy Land
3,638 posts
Location: Brum / Dorset / Fairy Land
Posted:
I clean hotel rooms
< (that's true)
I clean hotel rooms
< (that's true) Geologists do it in the dirt................
SILVER Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
4,172 posts
Location: Hastings, United Kingdom
Carpal \'Tunnel
4,172 posts
Location: Hastings, United Kingdom
Posted:
*licks her finger and touches FNF* 'tssssssss'
*licks her finger and touches FNF* 'tssssssss'
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,638 posts
Location: Brum / Dorset / Fairy Land
3,638 posts
Location: Brum / Dorset / Fairy Land
Posted:
eeew!
eeew!
Geologists do it in the dirt................
BRONZE Member
A Fire Inside
191 posts
Location: portsmouth and sometimes oxford, United Kingdom
A Fire Inside
191 posts
Location: portsmouth and sometimes oxford, United Kingdom
Posted:
I think a lot of teenagers just dont *know* what is going on in the world. As for the apathy, I would consider myself the opposite of the pupils you described but sometimes find that I feel apathetic too. I'ts not that I don't care, just that sometimes I feel so helpless to do anything about the things that I really DO care about.
Also some people aren't sure what else to do so they just stay at school...there's nothing wrong with that but maybe that could be why they don't seem actively interested?
I think a lot of teenagers just dont *know* what is going on in the world. As for the apathy, I would consider myself the opposite of the pupils you described but sometimes find that I feel apathetic too. I'ts not that I don't care, just that sometimes I feel so helpless to do anything about the things that I really DO care about.
Also some people aren't sure what else to do so they just stay at school...there's nothing wrong with that but maybe that could be why they don't seem actively interested?
::: I LiKe pLeAsUrE sPiKeD wItH pAiN - MuSiC iS mY aErOpLaNe :::
BRONZE Member
Pooh-Bah
1,872 posts
Location: Canada
Pooh-Bah
1,872 posts
Location: Canada
Posted:
I see what you mean spritie, the only way I've ever posted is using the quick reply but I just checked out the other way, and what do you know? no spellchecker.
I only have wordpad, just because I don't have a need for anything else, and it doesn't have a spell check,however I do use this sites spell checker on the rare occasions I do create a word document. I just compose my document, open the link to the spellcheck, cut and paste the text in it and see just how bad of a typist I really am.
Aimee, the English school system seems quite different than what we have over here in Canada. Our system dictates that a student tries as hard as they can in ( mostly ) the last two years of their public education and gets the highest grades possible. A student may simply pass their courses, but they're not going to get into university or college with poor grades.
I quit school,,because I was bored,,lazy, apathetic,,,worked in a hotel for three years and then decided to do something different with my life. Had I stayed in school, and taken the right courses, and got good grades , I could have applied for university right then and there. But. no,,I had to spend two years working full time, and studying part time just to get myself ready for university. The way the courses were structured and scheduled I might have saved six months had I quit my job and taken out a student loan. but point is,,,it cost me two years just because of my own laziness.
As long as you realise that the choice is yours,,there may come a time when you find that you no longer have the choice.
I'm aware of the ratio of British youths on this site . fnf ,,,but I still stand by my original point. Whenever I see a " poor" post, I ask myself,," British teenager?" and I'm usually right. I didn't mean to be insulting when I made the cleaning hotel rooms statement. the first think that popped into my mind was " pizza guy" but I had it in my mind that I was replying to a woman, rather than the original post, so I threw that in as example of an occupation that may be alright now, but do you really want to spend your life doing it.
I figured you were taking the title of the thread as an attack against all teenagers, and given your recent online eloquence thread, I found myself wondering why. Lightening's post contained the word all, maybe that was it.
I see what you mean spritie, the only way I've ever posted is using the quick reply but I just checked out the other way, and what do you know? no spellchecker.
I only have wordpad, just because I don't have a need for anything else, and it doesn't have a spell check,however I do use this sites spell checker on the rare occasions I do create a word document. I just compose my document, open the link to the spellcheck, cut and paste the text in it and see just how bad of a typist I really am.
Aimee, the English school system seems quite different than what we have over here in Canada. Our system dictates that a student tries as hard as they can in ( mostly ) the last two years of their public education and gets the highest grades possible. A student may simply pass their courses, but they're not going to get into university or college with poor grades.
I quit school,,because I was bored,,lazy, apathetic,,,worked in a hotel for three years and then decided to do something different with my life. Had I stayed in school, and taken the right courses, and got good grades , I could have applied for university right then and there. But. no,,I had to spend two years working full time, and studying part time just to get myself ready for university. The way the courses were structured and scheduled I might have saved six months had I quit my job and taken out a student loan. but point is,,,it cost me two years just because of my own laziness.
As long as you realise that the choice is yours,,there may come a time when you find that you no longer have the choice.
I'm aware of the ratio of British youths on this site . fnf ,,,but I still stand by my original point. Whenever I see a " poor" post, I ask myself,," British teenager?" and I'm usually right. I didn't mean to be insulting when I made the cleaning hotel rooms statement. the first think that popped into my mind was " pizza guy" but I had it in my mind that I was replying to a woman, rather than the original post, so I threw that in as example of an occupation that may be alright now, but do you really want to spend your life doing it.
I figured you were taking the title of the thread as an attack against all teenagers, and given your recent online eloquence thread, I found myself wondering why. Lightening's post contained the word all, maybe that was it.
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,638 posts
Location: Brum / Dorset / Fairy Land
3,638 posts
Location: Brum / Dorset / Fairy Land
Posted:
Insulting? Far from it dude - I'm not insulted in the least. I find it a funny to be fair, hence all the smilies
There are these too - when you've been round a little longer you can see they mean that what has been, or is about to be, said is harmelss and in good humour. No need to worry
I wasn't seeing the first post as an attack on all teenagers at all. I was baffled (again in a perfectly happy way ) that the issue of laziness and apathy in relation to free thinking was seen to be a problem among teenagers as opposed to all age-groups. I think the latter would be closer to the truth.
I'm not picking holes in semantics! Life's too short
If you read my 1st and 3rd posts again I think it's quite clear. If not I'll try and explain it again. I know as well as anyone that it can be hard to put thoughts into concise, legible and comprehensible words. (See my comments in the Eloquence thread).
No offence taken, or insult - I hope I do not come accross as if I have taken any! All is written with a smile in between trying to draw an irritatingly complicated graphic sedimentary log for a bit of rock I've never seen...........
*groan*
Insulting? Far from it dude - I'm not insulted in the least. I find it a funny to be fair, hence all the smilies
There are these too
- when you've been round a little longer you can see they mean that what has been, or is about to be, said is harmelss and in good humour. No need to worry I wasn't seeing the first post as an attack on all teenagers at all.
I was baffled (again in a perfectly happy way ) that the issue of laziness and apathy in relation to free thinking was seen to be a problem among teenagers as opposed to all age-groups. I think the latter would be closer to the truth.I'm not picking holes in semantics! Life's too short
If you read my 1st and 3rd posts again I think it's quite clear. If not I'll try and explain it again. I know as well as anyone that it can be hard to put thoughts into concise, legible and comprehensible words. (See my comments in the Eloquence thread).
No offence taken, or insult - I hope I do not come accross as if I have taken any! All is written with a smile in between trying to draw an irritatingly complicated graphic sedimentary log for a bit of rock I've never seen...........
*groan*
Geologists do it in the dirt................
GOLD Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
6,942 posts
Location: London, UK
Carpal \'Tunnel
6,942 posts
Location: London, UK
Posted:
*actually looks and spots spell check woo hoo*
Just to put my post in context I'm a 17 yr old (18 soon though less than 2 weeks) in full time education finishing off my a levels in further maths and physics.
You say that youths are often apathetic and i would agree with you on this but not in the way you describe. Yes, we are lazy (i think in all honestly 90% of people are) but we do care. Amongst my friends we often argue about politics and world issues etc but only amongst friends and half jokingly. Often in lessons until the class is comfortable with the teacher debate tends to be very limited.
Its true we should reintroduce civil studies style lessons (especially instead of general studies which has to be the most worthless A level in existence) the only reason i know anything about how government and the legal system in Britain work is because i went and found out from my parents. But such a lesson needs to be taught to small groups (less than 10) to be engaging any bigger than this and its boring - attempts to make it 'fun' through looking at leaflets and making posters are patronizing.
The best way to teach kids to think is to find topics they find interesting or that affect them and sit down and talk about it face to face with a teacher as 'chair'. This system works best in 6th form colleges where the majority of the pupils will know the teachers from lower down the school. Certainly this is what i have found and is the impression i get from friends and if all else fails be extremist - the kids will remember it, and its likely to spark some form of interest even if it does mean you have you be very careful in your planning
oh and until A levels most people its true dont give a damn - GCSE's are so easy its just not even funny. A levels are more challenging but the curriculm system is too prescriptive and means that areas that interest students cant be explored - if you can make time for this
(ps spot which bits were added after the spell check - and thank you for listening to another brit yuff rant bout how opresed we r )
*actually looks and spots spell check woo hoo*
Just to put my post in context I'm a 17 yr old (18 soon though less than 2 weeks
) in full time education finishing off my a levels in further maths and physics.You say that youths are often apathetic and i would agree with you on this but not in the way you describe. Yes, we are lazy (i think in all honestly 90% of people are) but we do care. Amongst my friends we often argue about politics and world issues etc but only amongst friends and half jokingly. Often in lessons until the class is comfortable with the teacher debate tends to be very limited.
Its true we should reintroduce civil studies style lessons (especially instead of general studies which has to be the most worthless A level in existence) the only reason i know anything about how government and the legal system in Britain work is because i went and found out from my parents. But such a lesson needs to be taught to small groups (less than 10) to be engaging any bigger than this and its boring - attempts to make it 'fun' through looking at leaflets and making posters are patronizing.
The best way to teach kids to think is to find topics they find interesting or that affect them and sit down and talk about it face to face with a teacher as 'chair'. This system works best in 6th form colleges where the majority of the pupils will know the teachers from lower down the school. Certainly this is what i have found and is the impression i get from friends and if all else fails be extremist - the kids will remember it, and its likely to spark some form of interest even if it does mean you have you be very careful in your planning
oh and until A levels most people its true dont give a damn - GCSE's are so easy its just not even funny. A levels are more challenging but the curriculm system is too prescriptive and means that areas that interest students cant be explored - if you can make time for this
(ps spot which bits were added after the spell check - and thank you for listening to another brit yuff rant bout how opresed we r
) back
BRONZE Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
5,814 posts
Location: Perth, Australia
Carpal \'Tunnel
5,814 posts
Location: Perth, Australia
Posted:
There is evidence theat the Roman oldies complained about their teenagers too.
Aimee is raising relevant points about connecting the the students. Its boring to them so why get enthused.
Cant give you a solution though...sorry. Can you get Aimee into your school to rev them up??!!
There is evidence theat the Roman oldies complained about their teenagers too.
Aimee is raising relevant points about connecting the the students. Its boring to them so why get enthused.
Cant give you a solution though...sorry. Can you get Aimee into your school to rev them up??!!
Is it the Truth?
Is it Fair to all concerned?
Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships?
Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?
Im in a lonely battle with the world with a fish to match the chip on my shoulder. Gnu in Binnu in a cnu
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,638 posts
Location: Brum / Dorset / Fairy Land
3,638 posts
Location: Brum / Dorset / Fairy Land
Posted:
I found GCSE's more challenging simply because at that age I had no idea how to handle pressure. In retrospect I needn't have worried!
I found GCSE's more challenging simply because at that age I had no idea how to handle pressure. In retrospect I needn't have worried!
Geologists do it in the dirt................
BRONZE Member
Pooh-Bah
1,872 posts
Location: Canada
Pooh-Bah
1,872 posts
Location: Canada
Posted:
You mean smilies are more than just decoration? Guess I better start using them then
Yes the laziness and apathy issue extends across all age groups, I know people in their thirties who can teach my cat a thing or two about laziness, but the original post was pretty specific.
Students are always going to be bored in school, it prepares them for the working world,where they'll be bored in.....................meetings
You mean smilies are more than just decoration? Guess I better start using them then
Yes the laziness and apathy issue extends across all age groups, I know people in their thirties who can teach my cat a thing or two about laziness, but the original post was pretty specific.
Students are always going to be bored in school, it prepares them for the working world,where they'll be bored in.....................meetings
Hop's Kitten Jester.
1,803 posts
Location: Wonderland igloo, Vic, Australia
1,803 posts
Location: Wonderland igloo, Vic, Australia
Posted:
Grr, we're not all like that.
I have been ripped on all my life for actually participating in things and trying to be independant.
I think for myself and make my own decisions most of the time and if i need HELP i'll ask but i dont expect people to do it for me!
Sorry, i get a little defensive when my independance is questioned. Ibve grown up this wayu ebcause everytime i didnt liek something my parents yelled at me "learn to adjust" so i did.
Grr, we're not all like that.
I have been ripped on all my life for actually participating in things and trying to be independant.
I think for myself and make my own decisions most of the time and if i need HELP i'll ask but i dont expect people to do it for me!
Sorry, i get a little defensive when my independance is questioned. Ibve grown up this wayu ebcause everytime i didnt liek something my parents yelled at me "learn to adjust" so i did.
.:Pink Exocutioner:.
I am Jack's Raging Bile Duct...
Loving you from the deepest part of my loins.
SILVER Member
Scientist!
578 posts
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Scientist!
578 posts
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Posted:
As a fellow teenager I have to take with the Fluffy Fairy on this one.
But I also understand where the other side is coming from. I'm incredibly lazy in doing simple things. I drag my feet when mowing the lawn or taking out the trash and will put off cleaning the house for a day or two...or seven.
That's the way it is for most teenagers, and it has been for a while now. I think it's mostly because we are allowed to get away with it. Before, in the olden days that we hear of so often, the teachers would use a belt or yard stick and beat you. There was no TV or computers to waste your time on. These days, we have both of these in nearly every house, and parents let their children do this. I think most teenagers should take up a more active role in govermental issues, but they won't untill their parents start cutting the slack they give them.
Alot of kids will have long discussions on their favorite sports teams, or favorite bands, but they won't care about the new green belt plan (which is an issue in my area right now. They are taking away the farmer's land to make room for parks -.- bloody stupid idea really).
I for one, am heavily involved with strong issues, and alot of the people I hang out with are as well. I am part of my school's enrichment program (aka, making the naturally gifted kids smarter so that we can have the leaders of tomorrow). A few of the other program members and I make up our provincial champion trivia team (and we wait as the scholarships come pourind in). After one of our last tournaments we were walking home and had a heated debate about Canada's political representation by population (or there lack of in the opinion of some) situation.
Out of a school of 2000, we had a little less than 400 people do the school vote that we run every year to get an idea of where the youth stood on the election (Strangely enough it was Liberal by a landslide, then green, then conservative lol).
That's about the same voter turn out rate as in the rest of the country.
It's not kids thes days, it's society in general, but unless you're teaching a class of adults, you wouldn't notice (and I do know someone who does do adult education, and she feels the way I do on this subject).
And I think I've summed up or at least skimmed most of the points that have been made so far?
As a fellow teenager I have to take with the Fluffy Fairy on this one.
But I also understand where the other side is coming from. I'm incredibly lazy in doing simple things. I drag my feet when mowing the lawn or taking out the trash and will put off cleaning the house for a day or two...or seven.
That's the way it is for most teenagers, and it has been for a while now. I think it's mostly because we are allowed to get away with it. Before, in the olden days that we hear of so often, the teachers would use a belt or yard stick and beat you. There was no TV or computers to waste your time on. These days, we have both of these in nearly every house, and parents let their children do this. I think most teenagers should take up a more active role in govermental issues, but they won't untill their parents start cutting the slack they give them.
Alot of kids will have long discussions on their favorite sports teams, or favorite bands, but they won't care about the new green belt plan (which is an issue in my area right now. They are taking away the farmer's land to make room for parks -.- bloody stupid idea really).
I for one, am heavily involved with strong issues, and alot of the people I hang out with are as well. I am part of my school's enrichment program (aka, making the naturally gifted kids smarter so that we can have the leaders of tomorrow). A few of the other program members and I make up our provincial champion trivia team (and we wait as the scholarships come pourind in). After one of our last tournaments we were walking home and had a heated debate about Canada's political representation by population (or there lack of in the opinion of some) situation.
Out of a school of 2000, we had a little less than 400 people do the school vote that we run every year to get an idea of where the youth stood on the election (Strangely enough it was Liberal by a landslide, then green, then conservative lol).
That's about the same voter turn out rate as in the rest of the country.
It's not kids thes days, it's society in general, but unless you're teaching a class of adults, you wouldn't notice (and I do know someone who does do adult education, and she feels the way I do on this subject).
And I think I've summed up or at least skimmed most of the points that have been made so far?
Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> STAY SAFE! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug.gif" alt="" />
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,638 posts
Location: Brum / Dorset / Fairy Land
3,638 posts
Location: Brum / Dorset / Fairy Land
Posted:
Yeps - I reckon so. Merci bien
Written by:
It's not kids thes days, it's society in general, but unless you're teaching a class of adults, you wouldn't notice (and I do know someone who does do adult education, and she feels the way I do on this subject).
Yeps - I reckon so. Merci bien
Geologists do it in the dirt................
GOLD Member
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Posted:
Ok. Take out the word "all." Does it make it any better? Not really.
EVERY generation is full of slackers and deadbeats. Work in my job one day and see the folks I have coming in who are my age (a good cross-section of the population). Most of them seem to have all the cognizance of an intelligent sea sponge.
Doesn't make the next generation any worse than ours.
And so I say that you are generalizing, whether the word "all" is in there or not.
*puts hands on hips and looks defiant*
Written by: Gelfling
What's your point Lightning? I've deliberately missed out the word all from the title since I realise that not all teenagers fit into this category.
Ok. Take out the word "all." Does it make it any better? Not really.
EVERY generation is full of slackers and deadbeats. Work in my job one day and see the folks I have coming in who are my age (a good cross-section of the population). Most of them seem to have all the cognizance of an intelligent sea sponge.
Doesn't make the next generation any worse than ours.
And so I say that you are generalizing, whether the word "all" is in there or not.
*puts hands on hips and looks defiant*
-Mike
Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella
A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura
SILVER Member
Scientist!
578 posts
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Scientist!
578 posts
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Posted:
Man, I'd KILL to be a sea sponge...what a life they must live!
Like, they don't have to do anything, and they can just roll around in the water when they feel like it.
Man, I'd KILL to be a sea sponge...what a life they must live!
Like, they don't have to do anything, and they can just roll around in the water when they feel like it.
Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> STAY SAFE! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug.gif" alt="" />
veteran
1,359 posts
Location: London/ Surrey
1,359 posts
Location: London/ Surrey
Posted:
...until some horrible humans dredge you up, let you die by dehydration and use your withered corpse to scrub their sweaty armpits!
...until some horrible humans dredge you up, let you die by dehydration and use your withered corpse to scrub their sweaty armpits!
The optimist claims that we are living in the best of all possible worlds.
The pessimist fears this is true.
Always make time to play in the snow.
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,638 posts
Location: Brum / Dorset / Fairy Land
3,638 posts
Location: Brum / Dorset / Fairy Land
Posted:
again - eeew!
again - eeew!
Geologists do it in the dirt................
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