[Laura26062]

Gee, all of us? That’s a lot of people. I am both a parent of two boys and a professor at a community college, so I spend a lot of time with people who are under 20. While many of the niceties of previous generations have fallen by the wayside (“sir” and “ma’am,” for instance), on the whole I would have to disagree strenuously with you. Many of my students are both attending college and working at least part-time; most are responsible and serious about their lives. As a parent, I try to provide a disciplined and loving framework in which my kids can live. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t, but that’s the nature of being human. And at the risk of sounding snooty, from your profile and your question I doubt you have children, and parenthood is truly one of those experiences you can’t describe unless you’ve been there.

Finally, the challenges that young people face today are far more serious and, in some cases, life-threatening, than any we ever faced. Under those circumstances, is it any wonder kids aren’t worried about saying please and thank you?

Some kids do bad things. And in our society, bad is much worse that it used to be. But to categorize everyone under 20 as undisciplined and uncivilized, and then to blame their parents for it, is not only unfair, it just isn’t useful. If you see changes that need to be made, start making them. Mentor a teenager, volunteer as a tutor or a coach, do something constructive. You don’t have to have children of your own to make an impact. Don’t just gripe and lay blame. Then you’re just part of the problem.

User Detail :  

Name : Laura26062, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 37, City : Bel Air, State : MD, Country : United States, Occupation : College English professor, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

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