It's up to you to get used to the world, not for the world to get used to you.

I'm relatively new to this whole teaching thing and I've come across some behaviors that, in my college days, I never would've been able to do. However, today, anything goes. If a teacher tries to instill some sense of personal responsibility and general discipline and being respectful upon his/her students, they're usually rebuffed. Deadlines are laughed at, and complaints to department chairs are a daily occurrence.

What a life today's kids lead! Rewards aren't just for winners, they're for everyone and worse, rewards are expected at every turn. There's a disturbing sense of entitlement among today's college-age students and from the younger set as well. The need to work hard and actually learn something is missing and when it's mentioned, it's laughed at as a past fad. These kids are of the generation where if you just show up for soccer, for example, you get an award. Basically, any action is rewarded, be it on a sports team (even the losing ones) or for doing basic childhood chores that are important for socialization and development. Even in some schools, the use of red pens for grading are verboeten since these pens have earned a bad rep from when Junior's mom or dad received an algebra test back, rife with the vermilion monster. "I just remember how bad I felt about the red ink," I overheard a mom say. "It just made me so ashamed and embarrassed. The other kids laughed at me." Boo-friggin' hoo. So, instead of possibly LEARNING something, the red has permeated her memory instead of motivating her. Now, her mission is to avoid the red-ink massacre for her own kids instead of realizing that hey, they could actually learn something from their mistakes. Those who are in favor of this type of acknowledgement are also in favor of keeping a child's self-esteem intact. Yes, self-esteem is important, but so is learning how to cope with the crap that life hands out ALL THE TIME. Bad feelings are par for the course as is, surprise! Disappointment!

When I was a kid, from grade school through college and yes, beyond, I was encouraged, but not coddled and rewarded when warranted. Rewards were given out when deserved and if I lost, I took my lumps and usually learned from it. I learned to work harder and learned that hard work paired with luck, would hopefully result in some sort of victory.

What has brought this up? I was, in a wee way, reprimanded for ANSWERING A QUESTION about the other college I teach at in class last week. At first, my response was "Of course, I won't mention it." But then, I thought about it for awhile and I started to get angry. Who do these kids think they are? Do they actually believe that every complaint they have is going to work out in their favor? Are they that narcissistic to believe that the world is going to bend to their will? Of course, they do have a right to their opinions, but they have to realize the consequences of their opinions aren't always going to fall on loving ears. In the real world, it's tough. You have to sing for your supper. Especially in the movie business. If you bitch about something you don't like and expect change because you say so, then get used to going to Window A-a lot.