Mention “Current Events” to a group of teens and just watch what happens. Their eyes seem to glaze over.
As if talking about something that isn’t in a textbook is a violation of protocol.
I don’t want to be an alarmist, but to some students, reading a newspaper might seem like reading information in a foreign language.
I’m not sure how much today’s teens are grappling with the issues of the day.
How can this be?
Easy. It’s not in the curriculum.
Sure, when something really big happens, it gets some class attention.
However, the stories that are important, but not part of breaking news, are literally another story.
Where are our students getting the depth of a story?
My experience with Israeli teens has always been the opposite. They are intimately involved in the politics of the day, and those conversations happen informally: in the taxi, on-line at the movies, everywhere.
The article in the link below notes that according to a Pew Research study, 49% of people were getting their news in digital form. Good for them. But are today’s teens using their apps for news?
Try an experiment. Ask someone you know, under the age of 18, what news they’ve heard recently. Chances are it’s the new sensational story with the glitz, gore or glamour that way back, was called Yellow journalism.
So, what will change? You.
Have conversations about what’s important to you as a parent, and it will trickle down. Be broad about subject matter.
Don’t wait for a family dinner (those are in short supply). Talk about current news anywhere. In the car. On the line at Target.
Try to make those little moments count for some ‘thought’ time.
Those teenage brains need a workout, and our teens are capable of great thoughts.
Time for that may not always be part of the school curriculum, but it can be part of yours.
photo credit: Wikipedia
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People Crave Free, Digital News [REPORT] (contently.com)