Just can't bite my tongue on this one..

[rodriguezpoultry]

At least someone is standing up for the Gen X.

Daggum....it's not like ALL of us expect things to be handed to us. There are those of us who work HARD, go to class while working just under full time (because the workplace is cutting almost all full-time positions), taking out loans to help pay for courses...

Yeah, anyway, like I said, ALL of us don't expect to get jobs directly out of college with ONLY a degree and no experience. The issue arises when the positions you were PROMISED are removed when you graduate, programs are shut down, etc.

 

[jerseygirl1]

Nothing beats when someone in my office wanted the company to reimburse him for his degree he had gotten four years prior to working there.....

They showed him the proverbial door......

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Quote:
Yup. We have the Hope Scholarship here as well. On the surface it is a great thing and for many kids it does allow them to get a degree that otherwise they would not be able to afford. We just graduated an incredibly talented young man who is now going on to grad school in his field. He had no financial support from home (I believe he grew up in a project). He busted his butt though to graduate with a high GPA and he fought for every scholarship he could find to help fund his education.
But the Hope Scholarship also allows kids to attend college that have no business attending college. They cannot read and write with any degree of skill. They cannot do basic math (multiplication and long division). They come out of high school with a high GPA, but they have abyssmal SAT and ACT scores. They get in and then flunk out because they cannot handle even the most basic of classes. Most have to spend their first year taking remedial classes and then still flunk out. Then we (the university) have horrible graduation rates and we are scolded by the legislature for doing a poor job. Truthfully, we shouldn't allow these kids in to start with. We don't set the standards for entry. We are told by our governing body what the standards will be. You cannot turn certain students away, no matter how behind they are. You must take them all and they must graduate. Well, I'm sorry, but some of these kids are dumb as a box of rocks and have zero personal motivation. They deserve to flunk out. (Please note that I have also had students that weren't the sharpest crayon on the box, but they applied themselves diligently and EARNED a diploma. I have the utmost respect for them and wish them all the best for sure. It's the rest of the weinies that I have issues with.)

Y'all are right. They feel entitled to be GIVEN everything. Forget earning it. They are shocked when I won't accept late work, when I won't give extra credit, when I don't remind them constantly of every little due date (they get a calendar on the first day of class with every single due date marked in bold print. It is also on the class website.). It makes me crazy.

I had a student once that routinely skipped class, didn't turn in assignments and didn't do half of the required lab hours. This student also tended to make 30-40% on the written tests. This student, of course, failed the class. I started getting emails about two weeks after I turned in grades. Oh, this student begged and begged- "I'll do ANYTHING! I can't fail this class.". I pointed out that it was too late. Grades had already been turned in and besides, every opportunity had been afforded the student during the semester. The emails continued with every excuse imaginable. Finally the student and the student's mother went to our head of department. I was asked to give the student a second chance. I protested, but as I am not tenured, was pretty much required to do what I was told. I said the student in question would need to complete all of the lab hours again and turn in the assignments skipped. The student agreed. The next semester the student would randomly turn up for lab hours, but again only completed about half of the required hours. About half of the assignments were turned in. I let the failing grade stand. The student protested. Long story short (or less long anyway), the student and student's mother protested this grade all the way up to the Provost's Office, even though it was very clear that mathematically it was obviously why it was a failing grade. Thankfully the administration sided with me and the failing grade stood. It took a full year and a half to deal with though. If the kids had worked that hard in the actual class their wouldn't have been a problem! Sheesh!!

For every student I have that works hard and applies themselves, there are 10 more that feel I should just GIVE them a grade based on their mere presence. ARGGGGG!!!!

I really worry about our country as this group moves up and takes control. The failing of the economy may be the first step of the end of America as we know it. The final failure will be because of this generation. Society only works when there are more responsible citizens than irresponsible. I fear the scales are tipping and have almost fallen over.

 

[Lady Henevere]

People in Generation X are in their 30s and 40s now. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_X

Generation Y, or "the Millennials" includes the current generation of graduates. From Wikipedia:

The Millennials are sometimes called the "Trophy Generation", or "Trophy Kids," a term that reflects the trend in competitive sports, as well as many other aspects of life, where "no one loses" and everyone gets a "Thanks for Participating" trophy and symbolizing a perceived sense of entitlement. It has been reported that this is an issue in corporate environments. Some employers are concerned that Millennials have too great expectations from the workplace and desire to shape their jobs to fit their lives rather than adapt their lives to the workplace.

Also:

The rise of instant communication technologies made possible through use of the internet, such as email, texting, and IM and new media used through websites like YouTube and social networking sites like Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter, may explain Generation Y's reputation for being peer-oriented and for seeking instant gratification.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_Y​

 

[DuckyBoys]

Quote:
I have a MS degree and I drive around pig farms looking for odor. I don't want to hear "She's too good for a job!"

Everything is an opportunity - and I am an Xer.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Please don't think I am putting down all Xers or Trophy Gen kids. I have some wonderful students who go over and over what is expected. They are fabulous students and I am humbled by the opportunity to work with them. I fully expect great things from them one day.

I know many/most of you on here are like that. You work hard to achieve your goals and are making a good life for yourself. It's the rest of your peers that make me crazy. We have created a generation of kids that expect life to be handed to them on a silver platter. Trophy Generation is a perfect name for the bulk of them. They expect a huge reward for just showing up. Sigh. Did we not every read these children the story of the ant and grasshopper?

Again, I apologize if I have offended anyone. My ranting has never focused on you guys. Y'all are all busting your butts to work, raise a family AND get your degree. If it helps, I LOVE students like you.

 

[bigkford]

Quote:
I like what our wheather man said her in Ohio, I showed up for class you said you help me get "A" job. Sorry it's not what you wanted but its a job. Life is not handed to you.

 

[Lady Henevere]

No offense here!

It's impossible to define a whole generation of individuals, of course, but I liked the Wiki entry because it seems like the sue-happy student, with her expectation of a "trophy" and instant gratification, fit the description perfectly.

(Edited for typo)

 

[saddina]

i worked for one of the hip, urban, and superfly software companies in the internet boom... we hired the best, most urban, most superfly. many many MBA superstar wizkids couldnt take it... they were not special anymore. EVERYONE was hip, urban, and superfly. you have no idea how many people - ADULT people - were in my office crying about this. then they quit. the rest of us did their jobs and mopped up the mess.

Hubby and I see this at our schools, we both work with the gifted classes, and these kids are so used to being "the smart kid" that when put in classes with the other top 5% of kids they freak out a little. Luckily many of these kids are also very competitive, but when 8 kids all score 100% you better believe the kid who got a 96% is going to bust out the books. Classes are assigned by assessment tests, every kid is "ahead" compaired to thier aged peers, but in our classes, you're all equal. Our 5 year old tested into 2nd grade this year (3 didget addition and subtraction in his head, all perfect scores, reads 45 WPM). He's going into a class of 7 year olds and unlike normal school, he'll have to earn his spot there.

 

[Garlydog]

Quote:
Yep. Local business owners have been provided with an invaluable warning on this one.