I, along with most of you, live in a world of instant gratification. When I woke up this morning, the incoming light seemed darker than usual. I asked Alexa, while still lying in bed, for the weather report and learned that, yes, rain was in the forecast today. I gained up-to-date information about temperature predictions, so I could select appropriate attire. I then listened to the news as I prepared my instantly-brewed coffee, but I missed a name, location, or detail. I quickly pulled up the relevant news article online to quell my curiosities. As I put on my shoes to walk my dog, I realized that I was past due for new sneakers. My feet will not suffer much longer; my fresh footwear will be here in just a few days.
I can still remember, though, working very hard for simple purchases as a young teen. I earned just one dollar per hour while babysitting the neighborhood children, even the wayward ones. I’d save my pennies in an old-fashioned piggy bank and treat myself to a 45 record at Peaches Records & Tapes, and I usually purchased just one record at a time – always for its A-side, unfamiliar with its B-side. I savored my selections. I spent hours in my room listening to the same songs again and again. I feel certain that my musical enjoyment was heightened because I had worked so hard to earn those records.
Today’s children, though, are accustomed to instant gratification. Rarely do they have time to nurture curiosities and desires. Instead, their questions are answered with a quick Google search; no visits to the library or even the encyclopedia are required. They usually do not listen to the same songs repeatedly because available music choices are easily accessible and cannot be contained in a cardboard box. As a result, I fear that some enjoyment for our children is bounded. With these limited payoffs, their investment in curiosities and quests is curtailed.
This generation is, therefore, less and less willing to play the long game, to aim for perfection in their work when perfection requires exertion. I was reminded of this generational discrepancy when reading a Wall Street Journal article this week: “If Your Co-Workers Are ‘Quiet Quitting,’ Here’s What That Means.” In short, this article explains that Generation Z is saying “no” to the hustle culture, whether they do so because they are over-stressed, burnt out, unhappy, or detached. Applying these warning signs to our high school children, we must find a way to engage our children, particularly as we stand on the precipice of another school year.
To engage our children in the long game of schooling, they must feel ownership: They must have skin in the game. We must start talking to our high school children as if they are adults. Our children should have some say in their class choices, their extracurricular activities, and their sports. To participate in making these adult choices, they should understand the benefits and costs of every decision and recognize the opportunities these choices provide. They must also understand the risks of their choices. They must grasp why we are, at times, trying to redirect them. Usually, our guidance is about keeping options open, but as parents, we do not always know what path will serve our children best, so we must be good listeners, too.
The time is nigh to set long-term goals, to make meaningful choices, and to discuss what may be gained from our traditional high school curriculum. (1) Math may not be easy, but its mastery can yield confidence and problem-solving strategies; (2) history is not about simply looking up and reading the history but about understanding patterns and diversified perspectives; and (3) studying science is at the heart of all curiosities and can prompt exciting innovations. By learning (4) foreign languages, we humbly acknowledge that communicating and cooperating with others requires concessions and mutual respect. Finally, by embracing the written word of (5) English, through literature and through our own writing, we recognize how writing, no matter the language, connects us all and how its study is still relevant to every career path. By seeking to understand coursework on this deeper level, our children may truly grow and reengage.