Archive: Around Town

Dear Margaret: I quit teaching middle school about 15 years ago because we weren't allowed to 'discipline' the students. And by discipline, I mean we weren't allowed to correct grammar and spelling (the student needs to feel appreciated for their efforts) or use red ink to correct a paper (that would make them feel bad and perceive you were angry with them). I went back to school to get a degree in marine biology. Now I'm working in a laboratory environment and guess who we employ? The very students that grew up in the 'feel good' age. They become angered when corrected, think nothing of coming to work late, and they have no work ethic. My problem seems to have followed me. These kids exhaust me. They have poor attitudes and seem untrainable. I can't avoid them and firing them is not an option for me. How can I coexist with this generation?!?
Millennials on my Mind

Dear Millennials on my Mind: These kids are adults now and someone switched the game on them. You can quit your current place of employment, but they'll follow you to your next position. Unless they truly have a learning disability, they are trainable, and it's now up to you to teach them. You'll need to get out your red marking pen, introduce them to spell check, and know that patience on your part will be required in double the amount you had 15 years ago. As a middle school teacher you were training children for the real world. You apparently have a valuable gift or contract with the Universe that requires you teach and mentor the next generation. And the Universe is apparently insisting you fulfil that obligation.

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