The Child of Today vs The Child of Yesterday
Posted: Wednesday, July 11, 2007
By Sara O'Rourke
Sara, you're an amazing young lady. You have what we say in the states, "an old soul." Your wisdom far exceeds your years. This is an excellent article filled with a fair comparison of today's child and yesterday's child. The easy answer to the question asked at the end would be, "Jesus." His name embodies the totality of our human existence. Of course, there must be instruction and study and a desire to know Him. I hope you're having a terrific summer. Great on you for volunteering at the hospital!
Sara thanks for sharing an interesting read; I share your passion for discussing history! I'm always interested when people say it was the "good old days". Was it really? I think that the youth of "today", whichever day that may be, is pretty much the same as the youth of "yesterday". They still enjoy playing, they generally aren't keen on homework and they talk back to their parents when they can get away with it. They're kids, as it should be. I liken it to crime rates which everyone seems to think have increased dramatically over the years. Certainly we are exposed to more crimes and the more horrific the better as far as media outlets are concerned. Yet this is more a change in communication and information than the actual crime rates. We see and are aware of more crimes, but that doesn't mean that there are more crimes. In the same way I think that every generation claims that the one before was more polite, more respectful and had better manners. But I doubt that is actually the case, sorry to the oldies, don't worry, I'll be one soon. Similarly, people claim that children are growing up faster and at an earlier age. That they are exposed to sexuality sooner (perhaps they are better educated about it), that they have to deal with adult concepts at a younger age and with adult pressures sooner. Yet we need only go back a few generations and it was reasonably common for teens of 14 or 15 years of age to be married or working full-time. Go back a few more generations and you have cabin boys, chimney sweeps, squires, maids and child brides forced into arranged marriages. The flipside is when people claim we are more enlightened and civilised. Again, are we? We have corporate global greed, wars, world hunger on a scale never seen, global warming, poverty and famine just to name a few. Times may change, but I think the one constant is human nature. This is why history will ever repeat itself. Just my two cents worth.That is the one true question I adore to discuss- would history really be worth the study if it didn't repeat itself? Would it be true history if it didn't? Of course not! History is the study of people. You would think that, coming from an arguably arrogant race (we think we are very advanced) we would learn from mistakes dotted around in history, but we don't. If anything, we get worse? On another note, I think that kids today think they are more adult than they realise. This is due to a combination of exposures, I'm guessing. But nonetheless, it urges them to act in a certain way. And yes, it is certainly comparable to the generations of youths before us, but it cannot be the same. Whether we like it or not, I think the kids today are very different, in mindset and in activity. What you are picking up on, and I appreciate that you do, is the minority who retain past qualities. Still, my thoughts are as good as yours. Thank you for the response =]Ben Jones, this is the most honest and truely amazing way to look at it... you are very right as to what you say about looking back only a few generations, and also throughout the centuries... I told my mother this same thing and it shut her up when she tried to down grade my baby cousin, when she was 15 for becoming pregnant by a 32 year old man... in comparison, what really is the difference???Another thing I give you appluade for is where you say our children are really better educated, this truth could bring tears to a parents eyes, but, "Truth," it is!!! Counselors in the junior highs now hand out free condoms to the kids, did you know that?? Also, sex is an everyday word for most teens and very much talked about among kids today as well....the other night I caught my 5 year old under the kitchen table with one of my husbands Playboy Mags., now if a female in the house uses the rest room he actually tries to peak through the cracks or under the door....He's Only 5 for God's sake...
I don't agree that children of today are different to yesterday as that suggests evolution and as you yourself know evolution doesn't happen in such a short time frame. What is different is not their nature, but their nurture, the things they are exposed which will have some influence in shaping them. We cannot say life is tougher now as in days of old, kids as young as 5yrs old were working in the mines. In some countries young children are still 'working' adult jobs and operating machinery, acring for siblings and living alone on the streets. In the war torn years children had to brave and were witness to a lot just as the children of Iraq are now. Some children are being taught in the present day to be soldiers age 7 to fight in battle. Children are different around the world not because their nature is different but because their environment is. Environments around the world have always differed. What is true to say is that 'SOME' Kids today have it easier in many regards than in days of old, but that depends what you are comparing, and for others it is TRUE to say it is considerably harder.
Yes, I liked this article because I am a returning adult studying psychology and needed to know how mothers working effects children. This gave me some great points to add to my paper.
surely it was it helped me write an essay!!!!!!!!
Sara was born in Bologna, Italy, and moved to Buckinghamshire at the age of twelve. She learned English by developing a love of reading Stephen King (who, to this day, remains one of her favourite authors,) and watching Cartoon Network. Never taking an interest in fictional work, Sara developed her style analyzing of casestudies such as that of Ruth Ellis, coincidentally bearing her passion for the subject of History. Although careful not to rule any period of the past out, her favourite material includes the European Reformation and the men behind Hitler. Quickly, the study of History aroused questions that Sara took to answer by delving into the field of philosophy, concentrating primarily on Albert Camus and, before him, Jean-Paul Sartre. Most recently, it seems she was finally made peace with the world of fiction and eased her critical eye, adding authors like Philipa Gregory and Samson to her bookshelves.
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