I have been a teacher at Conval High School for 28 years. Outside of school, I have also run an ethics seminar for the past 15 years. During that time, I have encouraged young people to get involved in community events.
We want the next generation to attend town meetings, community discussions and cultural events. We rightfully say that the future belongs to them. We believe in intergenerational conversations. I trust that we mean it.
I am grateful to the people in this community who contact me, going out of their way to make sure young people are invited to participate. In my experience, older adults are always thrilled when young people join them. But we still have work to do. In the past year, at three different gatherings, things were said that made my students feel unwelcome. I don’t think it was intentional, but it hurt. Sarcasm and snark can sound hostile.
Generalizations about “kids these days” can feel dismissive. “Kids don’t know grammar anymore!” “Kids just play video games nowadays!” “Kids don’t seem to care like they used to!” These exclamations are generalizations, and largely untrue. Even when they are partially true, it is wrong to take one aspect of a life and use it as a way to judge an entire, complex human being. If we believe in community and we want to give the world over to the next generation – if we believe that the voices of young people matter – we have to get better at talking with them. The best way to do this is to listen, without judgment. Hear their comments without feeling the need to respond. Ask questions and listen to the answer. Doing this, we will all realize how much we can learn from each other.
Eric Bowman
Peterborough