Schools shouldn’t train students to be snowflakes
Is Winnipeg School Division going to start catering to the whiney demands of teenage snowflakes?
I took note of WSD’s survey where parents commented that having later school start times would be beneficial for their students. The division cited a study by University of Minnesota that found the kids’ performance, including grades and test scores, improved when there was a later start time.
Here’s my response to that: Wah, wah, wah.
What I appreciated about my high school was that they groomed us to be responsible adults. They treated us as if we were going to a job. And by that I mean we had to be on time and if we weren’t, we’d get detention. Why? They said because that’s what life is like in the real world. They wanted us to know that being punctual was essential to keeping a job. And it’s true, it is.
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My high school classes started at 9 a.m. It was worse when I got to college with an 8 a.m. start time on Fridays. Friday of all days. Again, preparing me for early mornings was something I didn’t appreciate while going through school but now realize it was in my best interest.
If 9 a.m. is too early for those kids, I hope they’re prepared to have night shifts when they work. With the majority of office jobs starting at 8 a.m. or 8:30 a.m., it means the kids will be in for a shock when they suddenly have to wake up early and function for eight hours — which is longer than a school day. Should we shorten the workday for these kids? If they can’t handle it maybe we should accommodate that, too? Puh-lease!
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Perhaps this also shows how much parenting has changed in the 19 years since I graduated high school. If I had a late night, my mom, who has worked for WSD since I was in elementary school, had no sympathy for me wanting to stay in bed. The curtains were thrown open and our family dog was brought in to jump on my bed and wake me up.
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I sure as hell didn’t make demands or have complaints that it was too early and I couldn’t function. Well, maybe I did but I can guarantee the response would’ve been something like I wrote earlier: Wah, wah, wah.
Regarding your column of student snowflakes, I couldn’t agree more. Too many studies muddy reality with conflicting analysis. It seems we are too intent on trying to find the right solution for every malady, that we overlook the essence of grooming our young people to evolve into responsible adults. As a contractor, being punctual is an essential part of my project planning, as I allot a certain amount of hours per job to satisfy my profit margin. If a job takes too long, by tardy attendance, I tend to loose money, which bumps my timeline for the next project, etc., etc. A good work ethic is re-enforced by punctuality, not by trying to bend to the whims of parents and students. Pursuing a job after school will be a huge eye opener for them.