Article 2: Talking About Their Generations

Abstract
This article explains the history and role of each generation in the school system. The generations of the past century include the G.I. Generation who were born from 1901-1924, Silent Generation born from 1925-1942, Boom Generation who were born from 1943-1960, Generation X born from 1961-1981, and the Millennial Generation born since 1982. The Silent Generation includes the wealthiest Americans and they are important as taxpayers, voters, and are the most critical of today’s teachers. The Boomer Generation comprises the majority of teachers, superintendents, the U.S. Congress and the White House. A university study asked teachers to compare the students between the boomer and X generations in 43 measures of aptitude and achievement. The teachers rated the boomers higher in fundamental skills, academic inclination, task orientation, morals and ethics, communication skills, and willingness to work hard for the purpose of learning. However, the Gen Xers outscored the boomers in some important categories. In a few more years America’s schools will be fully a Gen-X and Millennial teaching environment, and will once again change the approach to teaching and learning.

Reflection
I thought the article describing each generation was interesting and informative. I never thought of comparing each generation’s affect on the school system. I can compare the differences in my own family because my mother was a “baby boomer”, my father was born in Generation X, and my grandparents are part of the Silent Generation. You can see how the different school experience each one of them has had, has shaped their views on the educational system today. In the second article, I found it interesting that parents have become the number one professional headache for K-12 teachers, according to a recent MetLife poll. These parents would most likely be Boomers and Generation Xers.