Gulf Coast Family

Angel Lee is a high school teacher in the Pinellas County Public School system. She recently sent us this article about some of her observations in the classroom.

It is a refrain we’ve heard since ancient times, “What will happen to the world when they are in charge?” The older generation always feels that the youth of today is falling apart. I am a local public school teacher. Recently I sat in my classroom and listened after the final bell. I heard profanities around 32 times in five minutes, which averages out to about one every ten seconds. Those are just the ones I heard – the ones being shouted and screamed as they careened down the hall leaving a trail of garbage in their wake.

So many young people today believe it is appropriate and cool to talk, act, dress and date like reality TV stars, no matter how young they are. They devalue themselves in appearance and behavior. Girls hang on boys like spaghetti noodles and dress like pop stars. Boys call girls derogatory names and don’t hesitate to cheat because that makes them a “playa.”

They talk about their exploits like they’re on an episode of some MTV show. It’s sad to see that cheap somehow has become normal. Chivalry is not only dead, but many students don’t even know the definition of the word.

Yet we allow it. These children leave the house wearing their clothing and they use the same language at the dinner table that they do at school. I see many parents who prefer to be friends with their child rather than correct him or her. The student with the most respect is the one who respects his or her own parents and does not wish to disappoint them. It’s not a matter of fear, it’s a matter of respecting yourself and your parents before that respect can spread outward.

It is not just parents who allow it. We used to believe it takes a village to raise a child, now that village is silent. No one wants to say anything because it’s not our place and we don’t want to judge. No one wants to tell them something is unacceptable. We have become such an accepting society that few teenagers know where the line is between right and wrong. Some may not even know that such a line exists.

Conformity seems to be valued. Unfortunately they are conforming to what they see on television and hear on the radio. We need to teach our children to value what is unique and beautiful. I was taught to be myself and to have respect myself and for others. It’s disappointing that many of our children are missing out on that.

By Angel Lee