Last week, I went with my sweet cousin on her fifth grade field trip. I am still in shock that I'm old enough now to be considered a chaperone (pretty sure I was more excited than some of the students). Anyways, this trip reminded me of my early years in school and on into middle school. It allowed me to experience how much had changed, and how it affected these children who will one day be our future. So, I decided to write three main issues that I observed while on the trip, as a way of showing just how tragically the generations have changed. So, here we go.
The cliques.
I watched many girls get walked all over by their so-called friends on this trip. It was almost as if these girls didn't realize that they should be trying to empower each other instead of tear the other down. The boys did the same to other boys who do not have the same skills as them or were not interested in the same activities. It was tough to see these children act as if they were better than another child and to watch their parents reinforce that. When I was in elementary school, we were all friends. I honestly can't think of anyone that I wouldn't have loved to talk to or play with during that time. We need to teach our youth that they decide who they are, how they're going to act, and who they should surround themselves with. But that they are not superior to their peers and acting that way won't benefit anyone.
Cell phones shouldn't be given to elementary school children.
I swear almost every child on the bus had a cell phone, including my sweet cousin. I know it's almost comparable to blasphemy for anyone to say these kids shouldn't have cell phones. Not to mention in the technological advanced world we live in, most of the kids have more than a cellphone. However, on the bus ride, I realized a few changes from when I went on my fifth grade field trip. These girls and boys were either playing on their phones instead of being interested in each other or worrying about how many "likes" they have. All we had to do when I was in fifth grade was play "I Spy," or watch the movie that was playing. My main point is this: these are children and by giving them a phone we are allowing them to research or explore anything. Typically this happens with little to no supervision. Which in turn can lead to problems that might have never arose if the phone wasn't put into their hands at such a young age.
This generation needs manners.
This is the most important point and was the worst part of the trip for me. I cannot tell you how many children I watched be disrespectful to their parents. Or worse, to another adult while their parents stood there and listened. I barely heard any "please" or "thank you" from any of the children unless they were reprimanded for not doing so. If the children didn't get what they wanted, they pitched a fit until they were given it. I would have never been allowed to do that as a child and it's shameful that we let our youth act that way today. We need to teach our youth about respecting elders and knowing when no means no instead of allowing them to always get their way.
Well, that is it: short, sweet, and to the point. Thank you for reading! I know this one article isn't going to change anything and some of you may not even agree with me. But let me ask you this, twenty years ago, was our youth facing the problems they are now? If you answer truthfully, you know it's time for a change. We need to educate our younger generations and learn to guide them, so that they may lead better lives as they grow older.
