After some recent reflection, I’ve decided on another single word that accurately addresses one of the largest problems with students (and people in our society in general for that matter): Entitlement (the other word would be accountability). Because of our relatively affluent culture and the decadent lifestyles that our societal heroes flaunt, it is my opinion that too many of us have come to feel that we are automatically entitled to a life of riches and fame.
I actually worry that even I am not immune to this inherent character trait instilled by living in American society. After all, I certainly believe that I am more intelligent than most people (roughly 99.9%). I also have confidence that I will succeed in life due to a strong work ethic, willingness to accept and overcome challenges, and numerous other positive qualities. Yes, I have an inflated ego, but at least my 4.0 GPA and list of successes so far partially backs that up. I don’t feel entitled to anything; however, I do feel that I can EARN anything and ACCOMPLISH anything with a little tenacity and hard work.
My gripe stems from the fact that far too many people, for the purposes of this blog I will focus on students, feel that they are entitled to anything simply because…well…simply because. These days EVERY student NEEDS to have a cell phone, an MP3 Player, a PSP, and other techno-gadgets that I probably don’t understand. Regardless of their family’s income and regardless of their own performance/behavior/attitude, they have these valuable items, for they are entitled to them—or so they have come to believe. As the semester winds down, I realize that roughly 17 students will be failing my classes. How many of them spend their spare time IMing on their own personal computers, talking and texting on their $150 phones, or playing their $500 PS3s? Roughly 17. What have they done to earn all of these amenities? Jack shit. What does this teach them in the long run? “I will always have all the cool stuff I’ll ever want, and all I need to do is…JACK SHIT!” Somehow they will all magically become millionaires and we will all get to see their totally kick-ass houses on “MTV Cribs” and drool over their pimped rides.
Of course, some of them might make millions playing sports. For example, one young lad with the body of a coat rack plans on playing in the NFL. He doesn’t need English class, which explains his 34% average. Honestly, the kid looks like a strong breeze or a violent sneeze could be the end of him. However, he knows that he is entitled to greatness on the gridiron because…well…because.
Sadly, such students are in for a rude awakening when they realize that the only thing they are entitled to is a minimum wage job greeting people as they enter Wal*Mart. They are entitled to sheer wonder, bewilderment, and stupor when they are forced to ask, “How am I supposed to afford ANYTHING on $7.50/hr?!?!”
4 comments:
I couldn't agree more...
Entitlement is a root cause of societies problems... But where does entitlement stem from, we must ask ourselves? How children are raised. Parenting. I believe much of the problems stem from parents telling their children they are "special". While I believe whole heartedly in the power of the individual. I disagree with this line of parenting. Why? Becuase that statement in and of itself begins a thought process in the individuals mind that they are special without having done anything to earn that title. Look at TV... American Idol, So you think you can dance and so on... What posseses people with no talent to believe they have a chance to win? Becuase they believe they are good, they are special... Children and adults are fed bullshit from the day they are born. Most people believe from the time they can put together a thought that they are destined to succeed in life... Hard work is not an option. Earning it... Well they have just for being born. Success today is not measured by what one does for others, but by how rich one is and by material possesions.
Try this test to show societies arrogance... When at a party ask people if they believe they are below average, average or above average drivers, I'll bet most answer above average. Ask them why they believe that. Most will tell you they have never had an accident or ticket, or if they did it wasn't their fault.
Society today is selfish. They want more than everyone else, becuase they believe they have earned it. They "work hard". Sorry, sitting at a desk typing away at a computer for forty hours a week does not constitute hard work. Perhaps my view on society is slanted based on my military background and my current profession of law enforcement. But some how it doesn't seem fair that, say for example, the cops in NYC, starting pay is 25,000, while the gardners in central park earn between 60 and 80 thousand a year.
Bottom line most people don;t know what earning something means. Most don't realize what they are truly entitled to, which is air and life. Everything else is earned by hard work and sacrifice, or earned by men and women better than them.
Thanks for listening... I may just start my own blog...
Nick Sherwood
God, we could go back and forth on rants ad nauseum--your last comment about the rights to "air and life" is a perfect summation of a harsh and unaccepted reality.
In order to simplify things, I'll try to be succinct: You should not tell your child he/she is "special" unless he/she is retarded. Perhaps tell him/her of his/her potential for greatness or something along those lines.
Unfortunately, "feelings" are all the rage these days. Teachers aren't allowed to grade in red pen because it hurts kids' feelings. Every child athlete on the field (and those with splinters in their asses from riding the bench) gets a trophy regardless of the score of the game. It's only a matter of time before some hard-working Asians take all of our jobs because they earn them. Hell, a new student from the Philippines entered my class with one month of school remaining and immediately stood out as the kindest, best behaved, hardest working, and most intelligent student in the class. She actually confided in me that she was embarrassed by her classmates' lack of respect and poor performance.
And I say I was going to try to be brief...
Ya know Adam, during my looong days at work I sometimes read your blog just to make the time go by, and for amusements sake.
Just because you are basking in the glow of your summer vacation doesn't mean you don't have to keep writing things.
Come on, give me something about the little children acting like shits as the run around the neighborhood. Ya know, how we used to be.
Or even better, make somethng up from our childhood!!
You should read about Critical Race Theory, in particular, the article of Whiteness as Property. Then re-think "entitlement," and blog again.
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