Concentration Crisis

I teach high school English and I also tutor elementary and middle school students. No matter what the age group, I see a common and alarming trend among children. They can't focus!

These kids, our kids, are being affected by two pervasive things: instant gratification and constant stimulation.

They get what they want, when they want. So when they come to school, they expect to run the show, which just isn't how it works - at school or in life. They talk back to teachers, question why they have to do assignments, argue about their grades, turn in assignments late and detest having to focus. It's no wonder that teachers are jumping ship right and left.

Believe it or not, there once was a day when kids were respectful, did not question their assignments or grades, did not badger their teachers to grade faster, did not bring weapons to school or start fights, did not wage an electronics war or refuse to work. As teachers we receive absurd amounts of training on best teaching practices, but sometimes the bottom line is, the child is their own biggest obstacle when it comes to learning. And no one likes to hear this. No one wants to give children any responsibility anymore. It's not their fault they're failing - it's the teachers…even when that kid sleeps in your class, texts, starts fights, talks, skips, and refuses to do assignments or come to tutorials.

They want what they want, and they don't want to learn. Many don't see how school is in their best interest. They learn just enough to pass state tests and then forget what they've learned. What kind of society does that create? A society filled with generations who refuse to own their actions and work hard.

The second scourge affecting schools is constant stimulation. It doesn't matter if we watch a video, play a game or create a project. Any and everything we do in class just isn't good enough…isn't engaging enough. Kids want blockbuster movie days and video game speed life. God forbid they have to focus. I ask my kids to read two paragraphs and they wine for a solid ten minutes. "It's too hard," or "it's too long." The scariest things I've heard are, "I don't read," and "I hate reading."

When was the last time parents put books in their kids hands instead of iPhones or iPads? We're literally creating a generation that cannot form complete academic sentences and it scares me. These kids believe anything they read on Twitter. They're obsessed with themselves, which could easily promote corruption because they're too busy taking selfies to notice that the world's burning down around them.

As I teach these kids, these fifteen and sixteen-year-olds, I seriously question my desire to have my own children. As an educator, I don't see the future generations heading in the right direction and I don't want my future possible children to be subject to leadership under a generation that can't even sit still for an hour. How will they get through a job? If all they're concerned with is themselves, what kind of families will these kids raise someday? I teach at an 11th grade level and I still have kids who don't know when to use question marks or that they should capitalize "I."

Our country's educational system is graduating students who are ill-equipped academically and for life. They don't know responsibility, respect, timeliness or dedication. And this isn't just a "fad." The infectious use of technology is diminishing our children's capacity to focus. And the distraction of TV, games and apps are consuming time that they could be spending sharpening their skills.

All of my students are convinced that they will someday be rich and famous. If they will be, more power to them. But if their behaviors in high school continue to college and work - they won't get very far. You can't argue your assignments with your boss. You can't be on your phone or asleep during work meetings. You can't have poor grammar when you email clients. You can't file paperwork late. School skills translate into life skills…and it's not looking good.