During my book tour, following the publishing of Generation iY—Our Last Chance to Save Their Future, I began hearing comments from audience members. When I would caution adults that we must rethink the way we parent, teach and lead this emerging generation of kids, at least one person would remark: “But haven’t adults always groaned about the laziness of kids? About their lack of values or discipline or respect for their elders? It seems like grownups are always whining about teens.”
I will admit—it’s true. In fact, dating back to Socrates’ day, adults have complained about how pitiful their youth are. Socrates said, “Our youth now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for their elders and love chatter in place of exercise; they no longer rise when elders enter the room; they contradict their parents, chatter before company; gobble up their food and tyrannize their teachers.” Plato also complained about the lack of respect kids have for their parents, as did Hesiod, in the eight century BC. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? Continue Reading
