Millenials and Education

Millenials…Born between 1980 and 2002, grew up with household computers, plugged in 24-7 with a work ethic described as that of multi-taskers. Millenials buy into the notion that if a person can finish an eight-hour job in four, they should be able to go home early. Many teachers and school age students are millenials. As a retired teacher (not a millenial though) I know eight-hour job days for educators are rare and today’s teachers spend long weekday hours and many a weekend day off writing lesson plans and studying data. Maybe this is one reason it is getting harder to attract qualified millenials to the teaching profession. As for the millenial students, they like all kids of all generations seem to be happy to turn in hurried assignments. Research should be quicker though with so much technology at their fingertips. My granddaughter, like many millenials, can find things fast on her phone. So fast that she can often get an answer before I have my computer booted up. But the computers in our schools are much more outdated than mine. Though there are rules against bringing smart phones (any cell phones- they are all smart aren't they?) to school my millenial grandchildren all do. They are supposed to turn them off but I received a “butt” call from a math class just the other day. Even kindergarteners have phones and they know how to use them. They’re millenials!

Education (in St. Marys, GA)…2012, less and less money for education, shortened school years, no music or technology teachers at the elementary school level, but the same and more state mandated curriculum and common core performance standards for student achievement, less students eligible to ride the bus, and possible privatization of custodial care of school properties. On the surface those multi-tasking millenials that lean toward finishing eight hours of work in four hours should be happy and successful despite the “less-ness” of everything. But it doesn't work that way without a level playing field for all subgroups of students. That’s right I am throwing in the socioeconomic card. In schools here and all over our country kids are struggling and teachers are struggling to meet the needs of our struggling kids. Education hasn't kept up with the millenials. Education isn't even close. There are no easy answers. Each generation is different but there are effective practices that transcend these differences. These are things educators are doing right and that makes all the difference. The expectation that all students can achieve regardless of socioeconomic status is fundamental to our schools’ success. The successes of students in Camden county schools prove it. And reinvesting in the return of the 180 day school year and music and tech teachers at all levels wouldn't hurt either.