I read a fellow colleague's blog and it prompted me to pen down some of my thoughts. He commented about pupils in the past (like us) and pupils now. He mentioned about what teachers often lament that kids are not like how we were in the past... though the curriculum is seemingly less difficult than before.
Are the youths today "softer" than the generation before? It is true that it is a whole lot harder to be students these days than before... and likewise can be said about teachers. If I may indulge myself in this topic, I would just like to share my personal thoughts about it.
There have been huge amount of changes that we see in the last 20 years. Computers are unheard of... much less about internet then. We had no handphones, no pagers and there was little entertainment on television on those days. We have relatively little distractions when we were students and we pretty much have to engage ourselves through various activities in schools or personal hobbies. Collecting stamps were popular and many of us loved to read... and as technology weren't as advanced as now, we had to write snail mail to friends who are overseas and had to patiently wait for weeks before we get a reply.
I guess these things are all part of our training... training of our minds and patience. We were able to wait and know that gratifications will be later and we will see the fruits of our labour. In the 21st century... everything moves in a rapid pace. People writes emails to others or even simply sms each other. Instant replies are expected and mind you ... you will get a scolding if you forget to bring your mobile phone along.... Computer is very much part of our lives... and the internet has such vast amount of information not to mention distractions.
I guess we were fortunate when we were younger. We had a simpler life. We had lesser distractions... Thus we were able to grow up at our own pace and to learn that we have to deal with frustrations and perhaps be patient and wait to see our fruits of labour. Youths today have to battle with so much distractions.. they have to grow up so quickly as they are exposed to adult issues at an early age (check the contents of the tv programmes). They are like the cocoon that has been pried open and forced to emerge as an adult butterfly. They do not know what is struggle... they do not know what it is like to work tirelessly even though the reward is nowhere in sight.
It is societal change that we are facing... an irreversible one I'm afraid... We were told time and time again that we need to design our delivery of curriculum so that it will attract kids to learn... to motivate them to learn.... but is this then a backward bend towards the situation. How much attraction do we need to do? Are we then teaching kids that it is okay not to be interested cause it is someone's responsibility to ensure that it is attractive / motivating enough for you to learn. Where is the perseverance... the patience to see things through even though it is mundane and boring? Are we heading the wrong way? The kids say that we have high expectations from them... and the standards are different... but if you ask me... I think we can't catch them everytime they fall... They must learnt to fall... pick themselves up... spirits undaunted.... and continuing to face the world with courage, faith and a passion for learning.
