Kids Have It Tough Compared To My Generation
By fishtiger58
@fishtiger58 (29823)
Momence, Illinois
September 8, 2017 9:14am CST
Everyone has their own level of intelligence. Some of us are really smart, some not so much. I have two sons and my oldest struggled in school and my youngest, well lets just say everything was a breeze for him where education is concerned. My oldest just made it out of mandatory schooling, ( it was the happiest day of my life), and my youngest has a Master's Degree in Astro Physics. My older son had to struggle and bust his butt just to make passing grades, he worked 10 times harder for a C then my younger son ever had to work to get an A.
When my sons were in mandatory school my oldest would bring home hours of homework every day and it was a constant battle to get him to complete it. My younger son never brought home any homework.
Now while this generation has wonderful learning tools like the computer, that we never had, heck homes didn't have computers until I was a mother already, my sons had 35 more years of information to learn. Now this is how it works, but what didn't work for me was this, and I say this because my oldest struggled. Kids today have to learn so much more than I did in basically the same amount of time. What I learned in a week they have to learn in an hour or two. Just because there is so much more to learn doesn't mean the intelligence level has gone up for everyone. That is not so. It doesn't seem that the education sector has made any accommodations for the increased information the kids of today have to learn. They still go to school for the same number of months I did.
I'm sure that the kids of today don't want to go to school any longer per year than they already do but....... how can anyone expect them to learn so much more information today than I did 35 years ago. I'm so glad my kids are done with mandatory schooling.
Any thoughts?
20 people like this
18 responses
@LadyDuck (459422)
• Switzerland
8 Sep 17
They are not learning a lot more, they are learning different things, because school has stopped teaching a lot of things in favor of more tech studies. My niece surely knows a lot of computers, but she is a total ignorant on things we studied when I was a student.
5 people like this
@LadyDuck (459422)
• Switzerland
9 Sep 17
@fishtiger58 I have read from teachers on this site that many things have been dropped, but I do not know a lot about the USA. I know the many things they have dropped in Italy, no more Latin and Greek. Geography very limited compared to what we studied, same for History. Art they know nothing. We will regret one day.
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
8 Sep 17
I remember when my kids were in school lots of history and other things I learned they were still ;teaching, my kids got out of school in 2009 and 2010. I'm not sure what they have dropped since then.
4 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
10 Sep 17
@LadyDuck The only thing I have heard consistently is the desire to drop cursive writing. But something has to be done.
2 people like this
@paigea (35761)
• Canada
8 Sep 17
I think this is the reason schools have to drop teaching certain things such as cursive writing. People are upset about that, but as you point out, we have added so much, something has to be dropped.
And I think kids are taught where to find information, and how to evaluate the source of that information, and how to organize that information, more than they are taught to just learn all that information.
4 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
8 Sep 17
Yes I would hate to be a parent of young ones today, I know how hard it was for my son, today even more information and more everyday. There has to be a better way and weed out the stuff they really don't need. If they want to know do it online in their free time.
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
8 Sep 17
i remember we had 2 sets of encyclopedias at home. i would read both, then rewrite in my own words.
2 people like this
@paigea (35761)
• Canada
8 Sep 17
@fishtiger58 I think that is exactly what they are doing, dropping certain things to make room for what is added.
2 people like this
@vandana7 (98986)
• India
8 Sep 17
Exactly what I wrote about sometime. Each day, each minute new information is coming up. Not that everything would have to be learned by the students, but some would have to be. Specializations need to start earlier now. A lot of information needs to be condensed. Like I was mentioning, why do we need a metric system, as well as FPS system, likewise, why centigrade or celsius and fahrenheit. Why not bring in uniformity? Bring down the number of languages for our own kids so that they have to learn less. Dissociate subjects like history and languages from school education. Let children learn it at home or if they feel inclined to pursue, join specialized classes for them. We are truly hurting our children with so much information. Let them not have to memorize those history names. Or for that matter those tables, or formulae. Instead, let it be there for them on net. Let them select the reactions possible in any chemical permutations and combinations, rather than memorize them. Only the very basics need to be told to them.
3 people like this
@vandana7 (98986)
• India
8 Sep 17
@paigea .. When we were young, we could rattle periodic table. I still remember mnemonic system of remembering elements, HNAKXR. Helium, Neon, Argon, Krypton, Xenon. Radon. Ridiculous that we spent time memorizing them, when we had Clarke's tables. Sigh.
3 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
8 Sep 17
Exactly to much unnecessary stuff to learn, let them learn that on their free time if they so choose.
2 people like this
@bluesa (15023)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
12 Sep 17
@fishtiger58 , I agree, they really need to review and change some things.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
12 Sep 17
I don't either, it hardly seems right. I think many subject are not so important and they have to consider dropping some of them.
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
12 Sep 17
@bluesa Apparently they are trying but my son is now 26 and he had so much to learn he brought home just hours and hours of homework. Firstly it was way to much doubling his load everyday and I'm not a teacher and so many times I couldn't help in the manner that was his right.
1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27129)
• Dallas, Texas
12 Sep 17
I can see this would be a real problem. The thing I hated most about mandatory public schools in my day was that often times and because every student had a different teacher for each and every subject from elementary, middle up to high school. The homework was given to each student by each teacher and they sometimes piled it high and deep so sometimes I had a lot more to study than before but it was even harder for me because I had extra band practice with the marching and symphonic band so I had not only to do homework but get to school early every morning to practice with the band. Computers were not used back in my days of mandatory schooling, and the teacher frowned on using cassette recorders to record the teacher giving instructions. But I took one to class and recorded things especially band practice. 
2 people like this
@lookatdesktop (27129)
• Dallas, Texas
12 Sep 17
The New York Times has this to say about the kids from Silicon Valley about learning it old school style:
The Waldorf School’s computer-free environment has become a draw for parents at high-tech companies like Google.
1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27129)
• Dallas, Texas
12 Sep 17
@fishtiger58 , I agree and that is why I posted this link in your discussion because it is very relevant to this subject. I hope you will enjoy reading it.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
12 Sep 17
I worry that no compensation has been made to those kids who struggle. I would hate for them to be labeled as slow when in fact they are not. It's just so much information so fast that as I said just because there is more information to learn doesn't mean the intelligence level has increased for everyone to be able to takeit all in and know all that information.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247219)
• United States
10 Sep 17
@fishtiger58 Schools are continually revising the curriculum.
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
10 Sep 17
But even an intelligent mind can only take so much. I hope they revise what they teach in school so much of it is unnecessary information.
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
12 Sep 17
@DianneN I'm sure they are, but it's still so much to learn in 9 months
2 people like this
@Shellyann36 (11385)
• United States
13 Oct 17
So many things are different in school today than even when I was in school. Schools no longer teach handwriting, more things are done on computers.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
15 Oct 17
I agree, they need to adjust the curriculum some things just don't need to be learned anymore as they are piling more things on top to learn. There is only so many hours in a day.
@velvet53 (22528)
• Palisade, Colorado
10 Sep 17
My sons were like yours just as my older sister and I were like them, It is different in the world today as it is so fast paced. Rush to learn this rush to do that. We learned what we had to in the time we were going to school. With the world as it is now children has to learn things to cope in this world.
I would take the old fashion way anytime over what is going on today.
2 people like this
@velvet53 (22528)
• Palisade, Colorado
12 Sep 17
@fishtiger58 It is like a trend, isn't it?
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
12 Sep 17
I would to and my mom said the same thing about my generation.
2 people like this
@just4him (307318)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
8 Sep 17
I was like your oldest, fighting for that C. My brother next to me in age was like your youngest. Easy A without studying for it.
As for them having it harder than we did, other than the fact that there is 35 years more history to learn, I don't see that they have it harder, especially since they can use the computer for studying.
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
8 Sep 17
It's just all the information to learn in the same space of time it's a lot.
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
16 Sep 17
@cintol It takes it's toll on them. I'm just relieved my oldest graduated from high school. I never thought he would go on to college because of his struggles. But he is doing very well in his life, he works for Amazon and it's an amazing company to work for.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
10 Sep 17
We all have our own levels of intelligence, I always felt so bad for my oldest he struggled so much.
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
8 Sep 17
It sure has I wouldn't want to be growing up these days either
2 people like this
@HazySue (39264)
• Gouverneur, New York
17 Sep 17
I have seen a drop in education. My girls leaned a lot more when they were in school than it seems the kids today are learning. Here they have lowered the standards and I think it is a shame. The kids are leaning computer and how to look up information but not how to absorbs information. At least that is the way it looks to me.
1 person likes this
@HazySue (39264)
• Gouverneur, New York
19 Sep 17
@fishtiger58 It's true we did learn a lot of things that I don't remember ever having to use.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
20 Sep 17
@HazySue Yup tons of useless stuff.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
18 Sep 17
I hope they don't lower the standards that's not the right way to go. A culling is what I'm talking about, there is a lot of unnecessary information that we learned that just doesn't need to be learned today.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
9 Sep 17
i should consider myself lucky because when i was still studying, we had books, the library, and notebooks. i hope the youth of today can gain more knowledge with the latest technology and not only playing online games.
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
10 Sep 17
I do too and the education system has to delete some of the unnecessary information as they just have way to much to learn.
2 people like this
@FayeHazel (40246)
• United States
13 Sep 17
I think it's give and take with things like computer - a great learning tool, but also a great distraction
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
14 Sep 17
It's great for research and that's all it should be used for, but yes hard for the teacher to see everyone's screen so what are they really doing.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
15 Sep 17
@FayeHazel they do it's called the teachers eyes and legs, but it's not optimal. lol
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40246)
• United States
14 Sep 17
@fishtiger58 So very true there... there should be a monitoring device or some such when kids are using laptops at school
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
14 Sep 17
Oh yes I can agree with that..life was far simpler for us.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
15 Sep 17
It is compared to our kids, and that's just what my mom said of my generation.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
23 Sep 17
I am not sure it is harder as far as the learning goes but from what I observe it is harder socially these days, kids seem meaner.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
25 Sep 17
I think so too because they don't develop face to face social skills their faces are always buried in their phones.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (49132)
• United States
14 Sep 17
My son was learning things even in kindergarten that I didn't learn until later.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (79974)
• United States
12 Sep 17
My grandchildren are learning way more than I did or even my kids. I don't know how they pack so much learning into each school day but somehow they do. I guess they have eliminated some of the stuff we had to learn to cram in the newer stuff?
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
13 Sep 17
When my kids were in school it didn't seem anything was eliminated just added to. I think some things just aren't necessary anymore. They have to compensate in some way because eventually it will be way to much to learn even if they went to school year round.
