celebrating mediocrity
 

So I went to my oldest daughters "bridging" from 5th grade/elementary to 6th grade/middle school. Darn time flies.

But ... I can tell that more PC things are happening and everyone has to be a winner ...

So in addition to the "All A's" honor roll (traditional, they deserve it) and the "A B Honor roll" (again, traditional) apparently now the "All A's B's and C's" "honor roll" exists and is being mentioned ...


FWIW my kid was in the "A & B honor roll" - she has worked hard (esp in her gifted science and math classes) and deserves it ...

all aprt of the no kids left behind concept. My niece is a P.E. teacher and coach and she is not allowed to have gym games that eliminate players, like dodge ball.

WTF happens with these kids when they get out into the cold, cruel world?

They turn into Liberals and claim persecution.

rjp

What an honor to have a bunch of "C's." I guess the honor is going to school.

What happens is exactly what my company has been going through for the past five years: mediocre to sub-par applicants for entry level jobs that then turn into angry and frustrated employees who have to be constantly reprimanded and eventually fired. These kids simply don't know how to put in a full day's work. They have never been told that they are wrong and aren't performing up to par, and seem to feel that social networking is a legitimate part of the workday. When this behavior is corrected, anger usually ensues, which leads to even worse performance leading to eventual termination.

It really is an epidemic. We're all screwed....

There's a chick at my office that sits right by one of the data centers; every single time I go by, she's on Facebook. Lately her whiteboard sez "WAH" (work at home) - I'm soooo tempted to change it to "Playing on Facebook"

About 7 years ago I attended a week long management seminar in Lake Placid and it was there I first heard the term "helicopter parents". The management guru was telling anecdotes of how far some of the the parents go to make sure their child succeeds, even having the nerve of showing up to the kid's first job interview with the expectation of sitting in and helping little junior with the "tough" questions (mean 'ol interviewer).
The kids we're talking about here, all equals, blah, blah, sound like the same kids this guy was berating. Still tied to mommy's apron-strings, no clue as to what is expected of them in the workplace.

One friend of mine works at a plumbing supply place. They have help wanted ads out all the time for warehouse order takers. They can't find someone to show up on time regularly and that can actually write out a simple parts order. He said almost no applicants can actually write legibly by hand and actually spell or use a paper catalog to look up a part.

re "celebrating mediocrity", anyone else go to an Army boot camp 'graduation'?
I wonder how many parents were at my dad's in '42.
Jim

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank MANY of the parents with children the age of my two: 18 and 16.

While your goofy spawn can't be trusted with breathing alone through the nose, my two rule: This summer the daughter is working an internship three days a week and waitresses three days a week...they begged her to come back to both.

My son will start next week at a friends of mines auto shop...he owns a very well respected independent shop that works on a wide range of cars. Jack knows Bill hired him because he knows me AND knows that Jack can handle it. Jack can't wait.

What we have lost, largely, in this country is expecting more, putting our children in situations that challenge and reward them for effort when they succeed, explain to them how they can do better when they don't. The dirty little secret is kids know among themselves who is who.

Farm kids. BTW, they are polite, smart and creative, think for themselves and, importantly, know why.

23 year old chiming in: I get really tired of reading about how no one in this generation knows what a day's work is like while I am on the 10 minute break for lunch I am taking in the middle of my 12-14 hour work day.

Get back to work, after you shaddup...and we are talking about many, not all.

I will never forget my in-laws neighbors coming out to berate us because we were putting in flower beds at their house. All of them that came over were mad as wet hens:



That is not work you should be doing. That type of work is done by XXXXXXXXXXs.

We'd NEVER let our children work in the yard or do any type of manual labor! That is below them!!!!!



Just so we know the type of children they raised:

One is doing Federal time for counterfeiting (for fun and profit). He also had something pending in state for conspiracy to commit fraud, theft, and some other interesting charges.

One is in State but I never understood why.

One got pregnant, dropped out of life.

Drugs and video games seemed to make up their children's lives.

All the above before their 19th birthdays.

Except for one neighbor, we saw one daughter (out of about 10 kids on the block) who came out as somewhat independant and able to think on their own. It was through zero help from her parents. She is a nice girl.



One neighbor had his children out working and cleaning and taking care of business (school and church and family). Very respectful family. Oldest was a decorated Marine, died saving some of his platoon. Next should have finished college by now and was a very smart man, very polite. Youngest was heading military as well when she finished school.


I met Paul's son, he was polite and seemed to have his head on straight. Moreso than most college (or collage??? ;-) students I have met in the past several years.

I applaud you and hope you do not have to continue at that rate!


You, however, appear to be the exception from where I have sat.

I cannot find people to work on my farm for cash paid out daily. They either will not do the work or do not want to be bothered. But if you have cash to hand out for nothing........


My dad (born in 1918) said the same things about my generation. Maybe we are all just slipping a little bit as each generation goes by?

we all win -we all lose
 

While I go along with rewarding excellence and hard work in lieu of all the "Johnny feel good programs"-----------------------------------------------

I never cease to be amazed how the work place rewards hard work less and less all the time- stupid work rules, seniority, the anti-hard work ethos has been here and growing for a long time --this coupled with entitlement growth its no wonder the work force has a problem with work.

One last point -the issue with the young workers has a lot to do with who raised em --if we -as I am one of those parents- got an issue with how they turn out we better look in the mirror. If you want rules in the system you have to be prepared to fight for the changes.

Mflo

As my Mother used to say while assigning work: Manual Labor isn't the name of a Spanish Jockey.

Anyone with a teenager and a lawn who pays to have it mowed should be asked to leave the country...

You, my friend, are the exception rather than the rule. You obviously have parents that know what the heck they're doing and have instilled proper values in you. Trust me when I say that in very short order you will crush your competition in whatever field you choose and your hard work will pay off in spades someday.

Honestly, I think the toughest competition your generation will face will come from Asia, not the US (and from Asians within the US). They're hungry for what we've got and they're willing to bust their butts to get it.

Good luck to you, sir!

I've been to many of these. What's really sad is that even after all these kids are called up for the award, what with the schools not wanting to hurt anyone, you look around and see the poor kids left in the seat and you collectively come to the realization that these guys didn't even get any "C"'s. So the end result is the school actually hurts them the most!

Honor roll should be all "A"'s in my opinion.

Slacker!!