Quite simply the youth of today is not only “not ready” for the challenges of tomorrow, but they also lack the ability to interface on a personal level. 

Sending a text message or an e-mail to plan out a trip to the movies has gone well beyond my understanding of personal human interaction.  Imagine your first proclamation of love to a class mate coming through on an iPhone.  Everything is immediate and instant, but the real word is not like that.  Sure we all love our quick fixes.  Being able to snap a photo and share it with a family member across the globe is a wonderful thing, but so is mailing them a letter with the picture safely tucked inside.

There is no sense of patience and with that no true sense of accomplishment.  This became alarmingly obvious to me when my eight year old decided he could call his Grandmother instead of waiting just a few hours later to see her in person to talk about his new pet fish.  I found that even as I attempted to thwart his action with a simple reaction I was only setting myself up for a massive failure. The saddest part of all, I was excited to see him so filled with anticipation and happiness that he could not contain himself.  Was this a wise parenting move?  Maybe, maybe not. 

This concerns me, but what concerns me more is the manner in which they are being educated.  It is obvious that the majority of schools are teaching students how to take and pass State and Federal mandated exams.  Somewhere along the way, the concept of learning has been tossed out the window and the idea of passing a test has consumed everything natural.  We have more special needs children than ever before in mainstream classrooms who are finding it increasingly difficult to stay afloat. Why?  Because teachers have stopped educating.  A simple Google search can tell you all need to know about George Washington and Abe Lincoln.  Why should they focus on that in their curriculum? 

In this technological era that is expanding every second of every day, todays youth has no choice but to conform and use the tools that engulf the world, or do they?

Wouldn’t it be nice to take your child to the store an in lieu of purchasing more ink and paper for your printer you invest in a pack of ball point pens and some loose leaf paper?  The premise lies within the parent and guardian.  If more people were more proactive and willing to reclaim their children as their own, perhaps we can alter the future of todays youth and better prepare them for tomorrow.

I believe that every parent, teacher and caregiver must step in and help make the change that is needed.  I am not proclaiming a visit to the dark ages, heaven forbid we should shut down a computer, or skip the DVD for a book or board game.  I find the technology available to us just as fascinating and addicting as the next person.  My article submission is proof enough of that.  My proposal is simple.  One night.  One day.  Just take a break and talk about the world and how they plan on playing a part in it’s future.