Teaching the Entitled Generation

By Kristen Miller

on July 14, 2009

Comment

I suspect your experience is one of the reasons why we don't have more good teachers. I can't see myself investing my life's work in trying to help people...

I suspect your experience is one of the reasons why we don't have more good teachers. I can't see myself investing my life's work in trying to help people with this kind of attitude.

By $commentName

on Jul 19, 2009

show more show less

9 more comments

You May Also Like

Charter Schools vs. Public Schools

Transferring Students Hinders Achievement

The Importance of Fathers in Education

There is something about the current generation of students in school that makes teaching extremely difficult: entitlement. The first few months of my teaching career were eye-opening in terms of this phenomenon. I had one student ask me, "Mrs. Miller, why don't we get paid to go to school? We're forced to be here, so why don't we get paid for it?" I was dumbfounded. We had a long discussion that day about this topic — instead of the discussion on rational and irrational numbers.

This sense of entitlement is such a huge issue with students these days that even Oprah did a special on it: "The Education Debate." In this fantastic special, "Oprah tells the story of a girl living in a hut in South Africa who, when asked what she needed, didn't say food or blankets, but rather a uniform so she could go to school. 'I wonder how many kids you'd have to interview in this country before you could get one to say that,' Oprah says."

The sense of entitlement in this country is astounding. I tried to enforce in my students that education should be looked at as a privilege, not a right, despite what was written into our constitution. Education in the United States is FREE. These kids don't know how lucky they are. Knowledge is power, but as Oprah says, kids in this country are more worried about having the latest pair of Jordan's or the newest iPod or iPhone than they are about getting a good education. In Oprah's special, Robert Martin, executive editor of "The Chicago Defender," blames parents for this phenomenon. I completely agree. I can't tell you how many students I have had who have straight F's and their parents take them on a shopping spree for $600 jeans and other outrageously expensive items of clothing.

I had a student who was out of school for two months for surgery. While she was out, she had a home/hospital teacher to take her school work to her and keep her on track. She did great. When the student returned, she needed a lot of additional help in geometry, and I received numerous e-mails from her mom essentially requiring me to provide one-on-one tutoring for her daughter so she could catch up. She complained to the principal when I said that I could not provide one-on-one tutoring, but could however give her daughter help along with other students.

I'm not sure how to fix this problem, but fortunately we now have a president who did not take his education for granted and does not promote this astounding sense of entitlement so many Americans feel today.

Comments

Add a Comment

From Allen

on Jul 19, 2009

I suspect your experience is one of the reasons why we don't have more good teachers. I can't see myself investing my life's work in trying to help people with this kind of attitude.

From Patrick

on Jul 21, 2009

This is exactly why we developed some PSAs (see www.educationpsa.org). Perhaps if the same amount of advertising fervor that goes into political campaigns or celebrity "news" were applied to education, we might start to see change.

From Jim

on Jul 22, 2009

Everything that was printed in this article is so true. Especially, the point that parents are accountable for this phenomenon. I was told of a school district that had an expectation that a child can receive no grade lower than a 'C'. If the child is not achieving at this level or higher it is the teacher's responsibility to ensure the child gets a 'C' or higher. As a school principal I deal with entitlement on a daily basis. I have no easy solution. But what is more troublesome is what will the next generation of school age children be like? That is really scary to think about!

From Donald Teti

on Jul 22, 2009

I have been teaching children for 41 years and this teacher has highlighted a very significant problem. The solution however is not to complain about the students! They are the only ones that you have! We must alter our methods. That includes more relevent, project based, interactive lessons so that students can use new skills to demonstrate knowledge and understanding. Teachers,do not give up!

From Darolene

on Jul 22, 2009

I was reading a article by Duncan, the U.S. Education Secetary about how we can change school. My husband and I are both teachers and in our discussion that follow reading this article, we both said the same thing. Parents are one of the biggest problems in Education today. Parents who teach their children that the world owes them a living are doing a great diservice to their children, but they are learning it from the Government who promotes entitlement. I sincerely agree with all that was said in this article.

From Bea

on Jul 23, 2009

I believe your sense of entitlement is the problem here. Why shouldn't your job be extremely difficult? I am a teacher, and I know it is hard work. If your kids can afford surgery and $600 on jeans, you are better off than some of us who work with kids who go without the most basic necessities. Their parents are taking the time to call and ask for the help their kids need. Entitlement is not as bad as the inability to see see beyond the next paycheck/meal/electric bill. With the right attitude, maybe you'll be able to engage your kids and convince them, rather than "enforce" in your students, the value of an education.

From Bill Fitzgerald

on Jul 24, 2009

Students are very aware of the hot button issues for specific teachers. Frequently, students will start "conversations" with teachers by broaching these hot button topics. If the teacher bites, then class is derailed. When this occurs, one possible outcome looks like this: "We had a long discussion that day about this topic instead of the discussion on rational and irrational numbers." In short, it sounds like they played you. A more effective response: "Interesting idea -- I disagree completely, but interesting nonetheless. I'd be glad to discuss it in more detail after school. Come on by. I'll be here." You have registered your disagreement, and not lost control of the direction of your class.

From Steven Kashdan

on Jul 27, 2009

Your choice of examples really derails your argument. Kids may feel a sense of entitlement, and certainly do not completely appreciate the opportunity that school provides. But on the other hand I would suggest that very, very , very few kids go shopping for $600 jeans (if such a thing exists) after getting straight F's. This type of example just makes your argument appear dumb, and makes your appear to be a complainer. Also you derail yourself when you suggest that you could not give one on one help to a student who had been out for two months due to surgery, doesn't feel like this parent or child feel entitled, but invested in catching up. maybe your the one who feels entitled. before your write something, do some research, give it some thought. I'd give this paper a D

From Lisa

on Nov 17, 2009

You know, as a first year teacher myself, I have seen this also. However, instead of taking up valuable class time to talk about the issue, I would address it in a form of a lesson plan. Maybe having your kids read over an article that talks about other children in the world who do not get the opportunity to assist school and somehow tie it in to an assignment. Kids will try to come up with just about anything to distract from the day's lesson or work. I have learned so far that only discussing an issue will be just as effective as going in one ear and out the other.

Behind the Whiteboard

Teaching the Entitled Generation

Comments

Top Site Stories

Subscribe to Webinar Invites

Behind the Whiteboard

Teaching the Entitled Generation

Comments

Top Site Stories