Each generation loks at the next with suspicion

Lazy, rude, demanding, self-obsessed, disrespectful. Each generation looks at the next with suspicion, convinced something has gone wrong. But are today’s youth worse than those who came before, or is this just the latest round of an age-old complaint?

Consider this scathing critique: “I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on the frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words.”

It may sound like a modern lament, but this quote is attributed to Hesiod, a Greek poet from the eighth century BC. Socrates reportedly bemoaned children who “love luxury,” have “bad manners,” and “show disrespect for elders”. Fast forward to 1274, and we find Peter the Hermit decrying young people who “think of nothing but themselves” and are “impatient of all restraint”.

This pattern of intergenerational criticism persists throughout history. The 1st century BC poet Horace wrote, “Our sires’ age was worse than our grandsires’. We, their sons, are more worthless than they…”. In 1624, Thomas Barnes lamented that “Youth were never more sawcie,” while in 1843, the Earl of Shaftesbury described children as “a fearful multitude of untutored savages”.

ENDURING PERCEPTION

So why does this perception endure? Developmental science offers some insights. Adolescent rebellion is a natural part of growing up, essential for developing autonomy and personal identity. The teenage brain, particularly the frontal lobe, is still maturing, leading to impulsivity and risk-taking behaviors. These are not signs of moral decay but crucial steps in becoming independent, critical-thinking adults.

While youth behavior has always been contentious, today’s generation faces unprecedented challenges. Unlike their predecessors, modern children are growing up with constant access to pocket-sized supercomputers. Jonathan Haidt’s book “The Anxious Generation” argues that this shift to smartphone-based childhoods has fundamentally altered child development, leading to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and social isolation.

Haidt points to a significant change beginning in the early 2010s when social media and smartphones became ubiquitous among young people. Girls’ anxiety and depression have sharply increased, fueled by social media’s pressures. Boys withdraw into gaming and online worlds, affecting their academic and social growth.

Haidt proposes several solutions, including delaying smartphone access, enforcing phone-free spaces, and reintroducing play-based childhoods with real-world risks and challenges. Schools, parents, and policy-makers must collaborate to ensure children grow up in environments that foster resilience and healthy risk-taking opportunities.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The home and School Federation is tackling these tough topics head-on at its Annual General Meeting on April 12. The event will feature debates and voting on key resolutions, including increasing behavior resource support in Island schools; supporting Canada’s Online Harms Act to protect children in digital spaces; and protecting student, parent, and teacher personal data.

The keynote address by Carl H. Burke, R.N., promises to be particularly poignant. After losing his 17-year-old son Harry to sextortion in 2023, Carl has dedicated himself to educating children, families, and communities about the dangers lurking on social media platforms.

The meeting will also offer workshops on critical issues such as artificial intelligence in education; gaming addictions; student behavior intervention supports; and local issues on volunteers and communications, finances, and school food programs.

These initiatives demonstrate a commitment to understanding and addressing the unique challenges faced by today’s youth. So while children may appear rude and rebellious, this generation faces new challenges that require innovative solutions. Instead of lamenting their behavior as unprecedented, we should focus on guiding them through a rapidly changing world.

The next time you hear complaints about “kids these days,” remember: this isn’t new. What is new is our opportunity to support this generation through unprecedented technological and social changes. The kids aren’t just alright – they’re remarkable, resilient, and full of potential. They just need our understanding and guidance. To attend the meeting, email peihsf.gov.pe. ca or call 902-620-3186.

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David Schult, president of the PEI Home and School Federation, lives in Charlottetown with his wife and two children, who attend UPEI and Colonel Gray Senior High School.