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There's nothing inherently wrong with having fun, but people are starting to live from one thrill to the next.
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I suppose that can explain the modern kids' attitude to scholing and finding their place in life. Of course the society demands much from them nowadays, but how do they know it? I'm afraid while children they get a light-minded, care-free impression of the grown-up world. Such a lot of them want to grow up, but what for? Most grown-ups try to shelter them from the problems of the world. Teachers are asked to give lessons "in game form" and accept kids just the way they are. Those who don't are taken for boring moralizers.
"Dance while you are young", "Live while you can" -just some of the sayings. Show-business with its self-advertising does nothing but indoctrinates that life, especially at young age, is pure joy. It's cool to dance till morning, it's cool to play silly and cruel jokes on everyone around, it's cool to be ignorant. Celebrities talking about about themselves mention little work, mostly opportunities they have to enjoy life. And advertising, which sticks to every mind - it never shows kids studying. It either offers to eat or drink something which will make you the smartest, the toughest, the healthiest... Grown-ups know it's all rubbish, but kids aren't as experienced. They believe everything they say or hear, but unfortunately the closer the sourse is to them, the less impact it has.
Or the advertisers choose school just as a setting for all sorts of pranks, amusement and misbehavior. Young people are very sencitive to fashion. In my opinion studying has been made totally 'unfashionable'
Somebody mentioned that mostly kids who can't afford education crave it. Yes, that's what I've been talking about. those who are not sheltered from grown-ups' problems think and worry about their own future. But most kids, who can say to their parents:"You know nothing about life" honestly believe that life is mostly music, dances, friends, sex, booze... Parents' and teachers' job is hard nowadays, as they have to convince not just every single ignoramus, but fight against a well-organised machine called show-business (is advertising included into it?). I don't believe that untill the society indicates
firmlywhat it wants from its younger members, those grown-ups who care for everyone's future will be losing their battle.
Not to end up on such a gloomy note, there is quite a number of kids who understand their responsibilities, but they are more of an exeption, especially in urban areas with their temptations and examples to follow.
[ June 02, 2002: Message edited by: akhtene ]