I was at the mall recently observing teenagers and young people (no, I’m not weird, I was waiting while my wife shopped). In any case, these folks were busy talking – well not talking unless you do that with your thumbs, but busy on their phones nevertheless.
It got me to thinking. What amazing power they have in their hands. They can go anywhere, learn just about anything they would like to learn, speak a few words and get the facts and figures on virtually any topic, learn how to manage money or practice a new language. They can test ideas, spill their guts, be creative … virtually anything.
Instead for the most part they are texting, posting on Facebook, playing games or watching videos. What a waste!
When I was their age, learning mostly meant a trip to the library, looking through endless books or the encyclopedia (I wonder what ever happened to those door to door salesmen?), handwriting notes and reports.
We talk about lack of opportunity, about inequality, even about poor schools. You know what, even the kids in the urban areas where we claim there is the greatest need have smart phones. It is estimated that by 2016 there will be 196.7 million smart phone users in the United States.
With all that power in your hand, there is no lack of opportunity, there is, in fact, more opportunity, more knowledge and more communication ability than my generation ever dreamed of…. and it mostly is being wasted by a generation fixated on pure dribble. Instead of streaming the Grammy awards, how about learning how WWI caused WWII and how WWII caused the current situation in the Middle East? How about educating yourself on job opportunities or pump up your math skills or vocabulary … it’s all in your hand. Too nerdy? Tough, than suffer the consequences!
Talk about learning, there are more learning tools and apps available than we can count. Children from toddlers and above can learn on a smart phone or tablet and have fun doing so if they don’t spend time playing a war game or watching a video.
I’m fed up listening to all the bleeding hearts moaning about unfairness, lack of mobility, inequality. I’m disgusted with a generation where minds of mush focus on the trivial and what someone else can do for them. Enough already, you have the tools, all you need is the desire to be something more.
QUINNSCOMMENTARY 
I have thought much the same about the technology tools. But, it is worse than the fact that the tools are used largely for frivolous purposes. The dark side of schooling these days is the cyber-stalking, cyber-snarking, cyber-bullying, etc. Back in 1960 B.C. (before cells) school was for some a joy, but for others, it was at least a place they could escape from 18 hours a day and on weekends. Today, the cyber world surrounds young people every moment. The peer pressure that had existed for teens ever since mass schooling started, is now many, many times worse. For many students today, schools are prisons, the tools of their escape are the same as those which imprison them, but used to isolate them rather than connect them: constant music, constant video games, constant video snips.
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Good point.
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