 | "[...]the moment you are old enough to take the wheel, responsibility lies with you.” - J.K. Rowling Do teens have more or less responsibility today than in the past? How much responsibility should a 16 year old be expected to have now-a-days? |
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Zoe Olbrys
10/20/2014 08:04:58 am
“I try to live what I consider a poetic existence. That means I take responsibility for the air I breathe and the space I take up. I try to be immediate, to be totally present for all my work.” -Maya Angelou. As shown by this quote, Angelou takes responsibilities for her actions and puts forward her best effort when completing responsibilities. Holding yourself accountable for actions, whether they be positive or negative, is the difference between the teenagers of today and the teenagers of the past. Fifty, sixty, or even seventy years ago, teenagers were expected to listen to their parents, follow all the rules provided to them, and live healthy lives by making the correct moral decisions. Today, teenagers are much more rebellious than they have been in the past and don’t take into account the negative things they do, though they constantly think about the positives. Other than the fact that morals and ethics are different in teens today than in the past, the responsibilities they hold has varied greatly. Nowadays, 16 year olds are expected to have much more responsibility than ever before. The prime example of the toughest responsibilities teenagers must face all involve school. Ever since we were in kindergarten, kids have been taught that they must be constantly improving, that they are not “good enough” or “smart enough” and must improve because the next grade is going to be so difficult. This placed added stress on kids and gives them the responsibility of constantly refining themselves to become better students or people. As we turn 16, we are placed with the responsibility of getting “perfect” grades and getting into a good college. On top of that, added projects including Sophomore Demonstration and planning for Capstone add self-responsibility, where YOU must complete the work all on your own with no help. There are strict deadlines to all assignments in schools, and even when a student thinks they nailed a paper, they end up receiving a C for silly mistakes. Students are so stressed that they cannot think properly, barely get any sleep, and don’t have the time to participate in all the out-of-school activities that they wish they could. Over fifty years ago, according to my grandmother, school was about passing classes, learning information, and getting into the college that you could afford. Now, grades are about who comes out on top and includes spending four grueling years of high school struggling to get good grades just to have the chance to get in a great college. Many teenagers can care less if they learn information in school; kids remember the facts they need to know for tests, and then forget it all because they must retain new, enormous amounts information. Responsibilities at home are much greater, too, because women today are much more involved in the workforce than they were in the 1950s and 1960s. That leaves many jobs for the teen-children to do, including cooking, cleaning, and taking out the trash, all while having the stress of work and school onto of them. Though teens in the past have had many responsibilities, it cannot compare to the amount of responsibilities placed on them today. Teenagers must expect long days, tireless nights, and the constant pressure to be perfect just to keep up with the pace of their responsibilities that eat away at every moment of their lives.
Samantha Soracco
10/20/2014 10:50:24 am
This is a great response because you gave many thorough examples to prove your point. This also helps many people get a different look on how most teenagers have developed over time.
Jacob E.
10/21/2014 04:17:56 am
WOW, this post perfectly encompasses the question of the blog. The quote by Maya Angelou: on-point! While I disagree with your position, I see where your coming from. I didn't even think about the fact that women are more involved in the workforce. All-around, great answer and I look forward to reading your future posts!!!
Ava M
10/21/2014 06:00:27 am
This is an excellent response because it gives a lengthy description of how much responsibility people have and the impacts of that. You gave great examples to prove your point. good job!
S. Kit
10/21/2014 07:36:59 am
I think that the quote in which you begin this entry with displays a very proper and well-defined version of what an example of responsibility is. Also I believe that the reference to not only our time but the pressures and responsibilities we have just in our high school is a nice way of explaining what responsibilities that are placed on us now.
Erin Satkowski
10/21/2014 12:34:30 pm
This is a great answer and covers all of the responsibilities that teens are forced to accept. Life is not as simple as it used to be and teens are suffering from this change of life. Students no longer care about the learning part of school. They are just trying to pass the class, and therefore are retaining little information. Students don't even remember what they are being taught and causes the learning process to be a complete waste now-a-days for most teens facing these challenges.
Marisa B
10/22/2014 02:09:31 pm
I agree with you Zoe! The quote at the beginning is perfect! I definitely believe that school work and grades are what cause the major stress of teenagers today, whereas it wasn't as stressful in the past!
Tim M.
10/23/2014 05:15:39 am
I really enjoy the first quote. I think it perfectly describes how people should live their life. Also you had many good examples throughout to help prove your point
Samantha Soracco
10/20/2014 10:48:34 am
Today, teens have a lot of responsibility such as paying for a car and paying for college and also becoming an adult. But before times today, teens also had similar responsibilities to tend to. Teens did not always have technology and spent their lives with other people more often then teens do now. Most teens today spend their time on technology and doing irresponsible activities. Responsibility in a young adult is important because those last few years are precious before a teen becomes an adult. These years of training to become an adult determine where one's life will turn out. That is why developing these responsibility skills now will only encourage a better future for a teen. Teens need to become more mature sooner than normal because a lot can happen to hamper a teen from living out the life. Many stupid mistakes can be made such as car accidents and fooling around and not displaying these acts of maturity to disable one from becoming a great person in the future.
Hailey H.
10/23/2014 11:03:01 am
I like how you mentioned that teens spend their time with technology and doing irresponsible activities. This could not be more true. Teenagers today take too much for granted compared to the past society.
Mary Palys
10/20/2014 11:39:47 am
Teenagers have more responsibility today than in the past because of the many rules and restrictions society has now put in effect. Society now feels that teenagers should follow more rules than they have in the past. For example, every child has grown up to the stories of their elder family members and friends telling them all about their adventures in the past. I've heard stories of my dad's bicycle gang of local Polish kids, skipping class, and even going as far back as my grandfather's stories of him and his friends jump the fence in the park after it was closed to play "stick ball" and escape the cops. Back then, all any teen had to worry about was making it home in time for dinner so they wouldn't upset their mother. Now, it's almost standard that teens have to work hard in school and go to college. Parents, laws and "concerned pedestrians" are making sure that teens and younger children are staying close because they don't want them to get hurt or scrap their knee. But what they do not realize is that this shield of protection is hindering teenage freedom and is forcing more stress and responsibility to make them proud and to follow the rules on their shoulders. Society is expecting more out of the future generations because of the advancements the world has been making. So yes, teenagers have more responsibility pushed down on their shoulders but only because of the amount of care the older generations are putting forth.
Andrew Cuomo
10/21/2014 01:37:04 am
You made many good points here. Kids back then did have a lot more freedom and today most teens are in fact held under a microscope and are held responsible for everything they do.
Thomas Westgate
10/21/2014 05:29:12 am
It's very interesting how much more freedom teens had in the past. My grandfather has many stories similar to your grandfather, as I'm sure many from that generation do. Now parents scarcely let their kids walk anywhere (although that might be because there is nothing nearby to walk to in Oxford), while when they were kids they would walk to a movie theater, or to an ice cream place, without even telling their parents they were leaving. It's amazing how times have changed.
Sean Kaufman
10/20/2014 12:45:50 pm
In modern times, teenagers possess a reduced amount of responsibilities when compared to the past. In colonial times, teenagers had an enormous amount of responsibility. They had to tend to farms, plowing acres upon acres of fields. Their very existence depended on them following through with their responsibilities. The livestock had to be tended too, as well as the fields. If they failed to complete their tasks, the fields and livestock will perish, and there for the family with it. They also cooked, cleaned, and prepared the house for daily activities. Modern teenagers spend time playing video games, going to movies, and getting pizzas. Some are so un-motivated that they spend entire days on the couch watching television. Although teenagers are responsible to go to school, the amount of pressure to get a good grade is insignificant compared to the pressure of their need to keep the harvest strong. A modern day teenager around the age of 16 should be responsible for completing homework without adult supervision, and learning how to cook and clean in order to contribute to the family unit. If they have younger siblings, they should also drive them and help them with homework related problems. Modern teenagers sometimes feel the burdens placed upon them by our modern society, but the teenagers in the past were under even more pressure.
Andrew Cuomo
10/21/2014 01:24:02 am
Teens have much more responsibility then they did in the past. Just take cell phones for example. Their was barely any cell phones in the past, and now, teens are responsible for these mini computers that they have now. Back then, teens didn't have to worry about what they posted from their phones because they didn't have them. Teens now have to worry about what they post because they never know what people are going to do with the post. Another reason why teens have more responsibility is that they are expected to go to college. The parents of teens really push them to get good grades so they can get into a good college and get a good job. This has been forced on teens more then ever before. I think teens should have some responsibility, but parents shouldn't overload them with what to do. It stresses the kids out and then they don't preform as well in school. Then the parents get mad, even though it was really the parents fault they aren't doing well in the first place.
Zoe O.
10/21/2014 11:37:29 am
Andrew, I completely agree with you about the cell phones/school examples. Since we have much more in our lives today than was in the past, we have a load of added stresses on our shoulders. Very nice response, and I think your answer encompassed the biggest responsibilities we as teenagers must face today!
Manny A
10/23/2014 10:21:46 am
Andrew, I agree with you! The stress parents put on teens really affect how well they do in school. The constant pushing to get into a great collage and get a well-paying job only stresses teens out more, which can have many negative effects. Great job!
Jacobb E.
10/21/2014 04:15:27 am
Teens today have SO much LESS responsibility than they have had in the past. In the old days, once you reached like 10 you were responsible for either getting a job, cooking, or taking care of little kids. The percentage of teenage boys working in coal mines to support their families has gone down exponentially in the last hundred years, and for reasons like these it cannot even be argued that teens now have greater responsibility. It's fact that working for a living is a more difficult thing to do than get an education. The real world is life-and-death, while in school all of the pressures are applied by oneself. Overprotective parents and wussy kids are the cause for this lack of responsibility. Teens are afraid to do anything by themselves without their mommy their to hold their hand through the whole ordeal. And likewise, parents are afraid that their little Johnny is gonna get a paper cut. For reasons like these, some kids aren't even allowed to leave the house, much less take on the responsibilities abundant in the real world. Teens should have more responsibility though. With the toughening job situation teens need to face the pressures of the real world as early as possible. They should be required to work a minimum-wage job in order to graduate high school so they can see what it is like. It seems ironic because while there was less need for responsibility in the olden days, there was more of it, and now that teens need responsibility it is less prevalent.
Mrs. Elbakry
10/21/2014 07:39:58 am
Insightful final line, Jacob.
Wade Grillo
10/21/2014 12:07:11 pm
Although it was difficult to read this response because of the very poorly used slang such as "once you reached like 10" and "wussy kids", not even mentioning the poor use of "their" and "there" I understand the point that you were trying to project. I beg to differ. You state that less teenage boys are working in coal mines, you may have watched October Sky one too many times. While there are less young boys working in coal mines this is because of health concerns, contrary to them being "wussies". If you did not use such a bad example as coal mining you could have said that less children are working paper routes, restaurants, and regular jobs. This would have been accurate. However even using that example children are limited by child labor laws that were ignored in the past more than they are today. These children that "lack responsibility" are at school studying to earn a scholarship to have a better job later in life rather than being a Walmart cashier from age 15-retirement. Teens now are more focused on a career rather than a job. You seem to have those two confused. While I appreciate the effort you put into this masterpiece of typos you crafted together on the bus ride to school, maybe you should stick to macaroni sculptures and coloring books.
Ethan LaFrance
10/21/2014 03:41:24 pm
Dearest Jacobb, even if I found your view quite drastic and dogmatic, your poignant final line made up for it. It sparked further thought that could be taken from the paragraph alone. I'd like to take a moment to thank you for posting here, I can't wait to read more of your work.
Connie C
10/22/2014 12:59:35 pm
I really like your opinion Jacob. It is insightful and true in many cases. However, not all parents are like that. My parents made me start working at the restaurant when I started middle school. Also, I have to cook for my brother and myself when my parents aren't home. Furthermore, my parents are the opposite of overprotective. They want me to get a paid job already!
Brianana Y
10/23/2014 07:07:39 am
Jacob, even though your ideas within your response were divergent from mine, your comment was an eye opener. You gave great evidence that supports your claim and ultimately made me reconsider my original idea. Your comment was insightful. I loved your ending sentence on how in the past responsibility wasn't important but most common and now a days responsibility is needed but hardly used. It is true in the fact that responsibly isn't used outside of school and jobs that teens go to. Overall great job on how responsible teenagers are now a day.
Laura W.
10/23/2014 10:26:59 am
I agree. As everyone else has said, the final line was very well worded. Perhaps the reason teenagers have less responsibility is because the need for it is greater now.
Wade Grillo
10/23/2014 11:28:53 am
"Wow" is all I can say about this beautifully worded response. I really like the way you stay on topic and provide useful and accurate information but also use more down to earth vocabulary that is interesting to read and easy to understand, such as "wussy" and "mommy". I completely agree with you and have absolutely no qualms about any of your reasoning. I cannot wait to read your next response. You should definitely look into starting your own blog!
Chris w
10/23/2014 01:37:52 pm
Good point Jacob, but times are different now in the fact that many kids must still support their families
Thomas Westgate
10/21/2014 05:09:47 am
The amount of responsibility on teens today is relatively equal to that of teens in the past. The thing that has changed is what society considers priorities. In earlier generations, teens were expected to get jobs and support their family at ages that aren't even legal today. I remember my grandfather telling me how he had begun doing construction work when he was only fourteen years old. Today it is not legal to even get a job as a waiter until one is sixteen. Many teens today are still pressured by their parents to apply for a job at sixteen, but even if they do get a job, they typically have shorter hours and the tasks are less rigorous. However, as the demand on teens to get jobs has decreased over the years, the pressure to do well in school has increased. The current society requires students to go to college if they want to make a decent salary. In the past, a high school diploma was enough to get a well-paying job. This no longer applies. Therefore, teens must focus diligently on their studies if they do not want to live paycheck to paycheck. In addition, the workload of high school and college has greatly increased. Since the 70's, the average amount of projects and essays assigned has doubled, and the amount of night-to-night homework has increased too, although not as significantly. A teen today should me responsible for completing their schoolwork to an acceptable level, being respectful to their parents, and getting a minimal hours part-job when they turn sixteen.
Sean Kaufman
10/22/2014 09:46:41 am
I like how informative this paragraph is. I would have never guessed that the amount of projects and essays has doubled over the past 40 years. Also, being able to get a good paying job at the age of fourteen sounds like his grandfather was a hardworking man, and that is a good thing. Although, I am glad that laws prevent work until you are sixteen right now because the pressure of school and work would be too much.
Logan Law
10/22/2014 02:16:59 pm
Thomas, I completely agree with what you have stated here. Teens today have relatively the same amount of responsibility as those in the past, but the areas in which they are expected to be responsible in has totally reversed. Back in the day, getting a job and supporting a family were the main priorities placed upon young adults; today, teenagers are pressured by society to perform well in school so that they can get into a good university and therefore live a good life.
Patrick M
10/23/2014 10:59:10 am
Thomas,
Sarah S
10/21/2014 05:53:44 am
Responsibility is an individual’s duties and control over those duties. Every individual has their own responsibilities, catering to their separate personalities and lives. In modern times, a parent’s duty is to care for their young children until the age of eighteen. When they are not yet teens, children have very minimal responsibilities that include simple things like brushing their teeth and cleaning up their toys after they’re done with them. But as the child grows into their teens, more and more responsibilities begin to form. They may need to do chores, and they have more and more homework. In the past, teenagers were basically already adults to the rest of the world. In medieval times, teenagers had to do work or care for their family. They would get married early on in life, and have children at younger ages. Nowadays, teenagers don’t have children. They have to deal with high school and the possibility of a job. Technology and other modernized tools make life for everyone in this day and age a lot simpler. The lack of technology in the past made life harder and shorter for everyone of all ages.
Ava M
10/21/2014 05:57:59 am
How does someone define responsibility? Is it the ability to try hard enough on your homework and to get it done within the allotted time, or is it how much chores a person does within a day? Teens today have a lot of responsibilities. They need to get all their homework done for school even though they get way too much, and they have to be responsible for what happens after they leave high school and go to college. Back in the day when schools didn’t have such rigorous plans, students had less responsibilities. They had less homework and were not expected to be as smart as the students of today are supposed to be. Students also need to be responsible for learning to drive and managing their own lives. It’s actually quite scary how the decisions a person makes in their teenage years will affect them for the rest of their lives.
Kelly W
10/22/2014 11:57:18 pm
I agree, especially with the end line. Any and almost every decision we make as teenagers has an impact on our life to come. It's scary how one bad decision can taint everything good that you may have going for you.
Sviatoslav K.
10/21/2014 07:34:00 am
In reference to the days of old, teenagers have held less responsibility than they do nowadays. In our society, teens have much higher expectations due to economic advances in our society. For instance, in reference to the quote up above by J.K. Rowling:"[...]the moment you are old enough to take the wheel, responsibility lies with you,” once you become seventeen you are able to get your drivers license, and then when that happens you are expected to be able to give more than you receive. Now that you are able to go wherever you need to go in your own vehicle, people will give you responsibilities that are just inconvenient for themselves. I do believe this is a good thing and a big step to maturity which is needed in every teen's life. But, i believe that too much responsibility should not be forced onto their shoulders. When you become a teen there is already the heavy pressure of adulthood looming over you and the need for a job and college search. This amount of pressure already would drive someone from the 1950s straight into a mental hospital, but for us it is a part of our everyday lives. Honestly, a teenage nowadays should only have as much responsibility as they can handle, and besides from work and college prep it is not a very good idea to layer on more and more pressure onto them in the danger that in one day we might break, and all the drive and work for would be wasted..
Sean Kaufman
10/21/2014 10:39:03 am
He explains both sides very well. I respect it.
Riley N
10/21/2014 02:19:16 pm
I completely agree the amount of work put into today can definitely alter someone's wether it be giving them bouts of anger or dangerous mood swings.
Wade Grillo
10/21/2014 11:46:00 am
There is a very fine line between responsibility and actual hard labor. Teens now see taking the garbage out or washing the dishes as a job and are expect to be paid or rewarded for completing this, while previously this was seen just as a chore children had to do for free to help their family. In a way teens have less responsibility now when it comes to labor jobs like those. But socially, teens now seem to have much more responsibility. In the past teens have acted recklessly, like many teens naturally do. There may have been a couple fights in the courtyard now and then that usually were just broken up and everyone was on their way. Now if teens are fighting it can be seen as "assault", "harassment", or even sometimes as far as "terrorism". These harsh terms also come with hard consequences. Something your parents may have said 30 or so years ago that would have been resolved with a slap on the wrist or a lunch detention are now met with threats of suspension, expulsion, and court visits. Socially teens are met with much more responsibility of watching what they say and do in public rather than at home, while home used to be more strict and demanding than it is now. Teens may have to do less labor these days but with new, more strict policies they also carry a heavy burden that past generations did not have to experience.
Erin Satkowski
10/21/2014 12:30:15 pm
Teens definitely have more responsibility now-a-days than in the past. Teenagers are expected to well rounded and are criticized if they aren't. They are constantly pressured by the fear of having to decide what they will have to do for the rest of their lives and how the decisions of a teenager's life will determine what kind of life they will have. Teens are expected to participate in athletics, clubs, and communities while still maintaining exceptional academic grades.This is all to build up college resumes and occasionally for a student's enjoyment. It is hard for student athletes to accomplish both when practices, games, and club meetings end at a late hour on a school. Oftentimes, students are up past midnight trying to accomplish all of their homework and studying. Sometimes, teens have to make the harsh decision as to whether they should even do their homework in order to get enough sleep so that they will not be exhausted the next school day. As you can see, schoolwork suffers greatly as well as a teen's health from not getting enough sleep. When a student is up past midnight trying to accomplish all of their schoolwork, they are exhausted the next day and are not able to concentrate on the in class work they are doing. Few teachers rarely understand this fact. They add more stress to teens by pressuring them to always accomplish their work otherwise, they will be penalized and shamed. Another factor of the amount of responsibility relies within their home life. Teenagers have to take care of siblings, do chores, and spend time with their family when they get home from school and other activities. Their family obviously wants them to spend time with them and attend family parties and gatherings that occur. However, homework prevents students from participating in these family gatherings and often stresses the student out from having to do both. Teenagers are expected are to do all of this while still getting the recommended eight hours of sleep that are needed to maintain a healthy body and mind. How are teenagers able to accomplish all of these activities while still getting eight hours of sleep? There just aren't enough hours in the day to do everything and students often have to determine what is more important and let the other activities mentioned suffer. One last responsibility students have are to maintain a social relationship with friends and have time to do activities that they enjoy. Teens are forced to give up their favorite pastimes and risk losing friendships in order to do everything else that is on their plate. Also, if a teen is not social due to the amount of work and events they have going on in their life, they are considered to be socially awkward and may be forced to see therapists for their lack of socialism even though there may be nothing wrong with them. This much responsibility shouldn't lie within a 16 year old. Several health risks occur when teens have this much responsibility burdening them. Stress disorders, sleep deprivation that could lead to car accidents, anxiety, unwillingness to go to school, suicide, and other health risks could be a result of all of these burdens. School is supposed to be a safe place for teens, but instead the tables have turned to a dangerous level.
Julia Hinton
10/22/2014 04:28:58 pm
I like the examples you provide regarding how many expectations are leveled at teens on a regular basis. It is difficult to fulfill all responsibilities and find any enjoyment. Lets hope that teens who feel this added pressure you talk about in your final thoughts decide to talk to someone about their feelings before it escalates to a dangerous level. Good insight Erin!:)
Sydney T.
10/23/2014 02:29:20 am
Erin, I completely agree with you. Teenager now a day are expected to maintain sleep, grades, and friendships. There is too much stress like you had stated, and you are right not many teachers understand that.
Riley N
10/21/2014 02:15:21 pm
The idea that teenagers today have little responsibilities is absurd. Recent studies even show that the work and pressure that teens today undergo cause them to have the average stress levels of a middle aged working individual. This is because technology has advanced so much we can no longer be teenagers. The expectations have stayed the same but the risks continue to increase. Something like failing a quiz which was a concealable act that made little difference is looked at today as blasphemy. PowerSchool is one of the contributing factors to this. Now that parents can easily see what their kids are doing at all times inflates helicopter parenting and destroys any means of making mistakes and learning from them. Also we are constantly being watched at every street corner and every hallway. While this helps sometimes it also destroys any means of relaxing. The idea that you are constantly being watched is exhausting and it leaves someone always on their guard. This is so extensive that if someone were to be minorly hurt in an accidental situation the group witness are put under the pressure of possibly being interrogated even over the slightest of bloody noses. If anything teens today are put under more responsibilities than ever expected and should be lightened.
Ethan LaFrance
10/21/2014 03:38:58 pm
As time progresses and the future becomes the past, aging generations try to judge the youth using the state that their own generation was in when they were the youth as a model of perfection. This self-exaltation is not, in fact, a clear analysis, but just a bitter cocktail of flattery and nostalgia. Responsibility is not determined by age, but by situation. The youth of today are in a starkly different position in their teen years than the youth of yesteryear. They are expected to have a different type of responsibility than past generations. Their education is more rigorous, and they must take greater responsibility for their own work and its management than any prior generation. Teens of the past, however, were expected more to sacrifice for others, perhaps quitting school to support their families, or make more decisions concerning others who need them. It is however, true that this responsibility can still exist in teens living in poverty today, and the modern type of responsibility in teens living lives of affluence in the past. Now-a-days, teens must have however much responsibility their situation calls for. It has always been this way. If they wish to achieve success in their eyes, they must take charge of whatever they need to do to get there. While most expect teens to take responsibility for typical concerns, such as school and sports and the future, this is not necessarily the case. As long as one is taking responsibility and initiative that acts in a positive way towards their personal goals, they are doing all that can be expected of them.
Jeet R.
10/23/2014 05:50:41 am
Very insightful Ethan, the imagery used is vivid and helps progress the point you are trying to push across. Youre stance is quite perceptive.
Jeet R.
10/23/2014 05:51:10 am
Your* sorry miss elbakry haha
Justin O
10/23/2014 11:37:15 am
Ethan - good way to think outside the box. Responsibility should not be limited to school and sports, but to whatever drives the individual to want to be successful
Sydney T.
10/22/2014 12:54:43 am
Today, in modern society, teenagers are expected to hold a great amount of responsibility. Especially among their actions. Whether it is that they are able to supply and provide for themselves or if they get their homework done on time. The amount of responsibility that they are expected to posses is greater than it has been in the past. At the young ages of teenage years, kids are expected to be responsible enough to chose a career option and as soon as they graduate high school they are expected to be responsible and go to college. It is proven that more teenagers have chosen the college route than in the past and that proves that they are expected to deal with and hold a large amount of responsibility. Teenagers are told everyday to "be responsible" whether is with getting a job or doing school work. In the past, kids were not expected to have to grow up at such a young age and that age keeps decreasing. Now a days, a 16 year old should only be expected to have a limited amount of responsibility. 16 year old's should still be doing their school work and trying as hard as they can, of course, but they're (we're) still kids, trying to figure out who we are and what we want to do out of high school. There's a million options and it proves to be stressful. 16 year old's along with other teenagers should only be expected to have as much responsibility as they can handle
Rachael T.
10/22/2014 02:07:04 pm
I completely agree, teens have so much pressure trying to figure out what career path they should take. It takes a lot of planning and hard work to get to where you want to be. The competition to get into the best schools/sports teams/etc. is enough to stress anybody out.
Heather H.
10/23/2014 01:21:53 pm
Your reasons are very relatable and accurate. I think that you proved your point effectively in saying that teens are pushed too far.
Connie C
10/22/2014 12:46:11 pm
According to the Oxford dictionary, the definition of responsibility is “The state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone.” In the past, adolescents had as many responsibilities as they have today. The responsibilities are just different. The cause of this difference of responsibilities is due to the efflorescence of new technology and governments. In the past, people traveled around by foot or a carriage, and communicated with letters. However, due to the development of cars and cellphones, people can communicate with each other much more efficiently and travel around a lot faster today. These new technologies introduced new responsibilities among teens because the law allows teens at the age of 16 to take a test for a permit and learn the basics of driving. Driving is probably one of the biggest responsibilities a person has in their lifetime. The person driving must remain cautious throughout their trip since one mistake affects not only him, but someone else as well.
Jay V.
10/23/2014 09:17:41 am
There many great points brought up in this response. Driving and voting are huge responsibilities for teengers in the 21st century but family obligations in the past were tough for teenagers in the Middle Ages and elsewhere. Though I do agree with you about how the responsibilities in the two eras are vastly different, I believe that those teengers have today far outwheigh those that hey had in the past. Most responsibilities teenagers had back then pertained to the family; however, in our day and age, teenagers have a much bigger responsibility over themselves and their own age group, from deciding what career to ipersue to finding who to marry and raise a family with, things originally decided by social caste and one's parents rather than oneself. Overall, great response.
Kelly W
10/22/2014 01:17:22 pm
Today teens have a great amount of responsibility, especially because of parents expect so much from their kids nowadays. Parents have very high expectations of their children, expecting them to obtain high grades, go to a good college, get a hardworking job, exceed in the sport they do, etc. Unlike in the past, it doesn't matter the gender or age of the child, parents expect a lot from their children. A long time ago, girls were responsible for housework and cooking, while males were responsible for making money and doing the "heavy lifting". Now, whether you are a male or female, parents expect for the kids to do well in everything they do and they expect them to take on a lot of responsibility. Parents expect their children to juggle school, housework, and even get a long hour, well paying job to afford any miscellaneous items they may want. My dad used to tell me that he would eat breakfast, then his mom and dad would send him off to go and play with his friends all day, and his only responsibility was to make it home in time for dinner. Now, kids always have to take on many tasks; dinner is the least of their worries now. 16 year olds shouldn't be given so much responsibilities that they feel over stressed and even emotionally unstable. Of course, kids should be able to take on school and house work, but sometimes the work gets too heavy and kids freak out, especially when their parents expect such high grades. Jobs shouldn't be expected as highly as they are today; kids should be able to have some down time and enjoy being a kid, as they will be working until they are 60 or even 70. They have enough time work and worry about jobs when they are older, so jobs shouldn't be a responsibility kids take on at 16.
Logan Law
10/22/2014 02:04:22 pm
Teens today are more pressured to do well in certain areas like school, sports and other extracurricular activities than ever before. This is largely due to the ever increasing competition found when trying to get into a college. Even though these may be very important areas to focus on, especially in the development of youth, attributes like fairness, open-mindness and kindness are often left untouched in the education of teens. For example, young adults growing up in the past were not nearly as pressured into doing extremely well in areas that would help them get into a good university, but rather were taught a foundation of moral principles to help guide them in life to make the right decisions. Families were more closely tied together and talked face-to-face more. Teenagers back then were also more likely to lend a helping hand to a friend or family member in need. Today, on the other hand, teens are primarily focused on doing what is best for them, and leave helping others out and/or doing the moral thing as a secondary priority. This is largely due to the fear engraved in many teenagers today of the consequences they will experience throughout their life if they do not perform near perfectly in their high school years. In conclusion, it seems as if the responsibility placed on teenagers has shifted from a moral sphere to a self-centered one. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing, as teens today are more motivated to excel in school, sports and extracurriculars than in any other generation.
Mrs. Elbakry
10/23/2014 03:55:34 am
Poignant response, Logan.
Andy S
10/23/2014 12:13:24 pm
I agree with this response completely, teens face much more responsibility when it comes to getting into colleges and their future.
Rachael T.
10/22/2014 02:06:30 pm
In the past, teenagers may have had more responsibilities when it came to household chores. Teens would cook entire meals, do jobs around the house, and older siblings were often given the responsibility of watching their younger brothers or sisters. Now, parents usually cook family dinners, and babysitters are hired to watch kids. However, now teenagers are more responsible for their future. Our entire lives are spent in school, learning as much as we can and preparing ourselves for the outside world. In high school, teens have the pressure of exceling in classes and acing the SATs so we can get into a good college. What we do in these four years can affect the rest of our lives, which is an enormous responsibility. If teenagers are irresponsible and slack off, they will get less desirable careers that may not provide a significant income. Not only is there pressure to have good grades, students are also expected to be well-rounded. This includes joining athletic teams, playing an instrument, joining clubs, or dedicating oneself to something important. Teens don’t have a lot of free time either, because all of their free time is spent participating in these activities. Now-a-days, sixteen year olds should be responsible for getting involved into the community and preparing for college. At this age, teens aren’t completely independent, but they are beginning to experience what it is like to be a self-sufficient adult. This means that they need to start thinking about what it takes to get into a good school, like giving back and getting involved in the community. After 16 years, parents have been right behind their children and gently exposing them to the outside world. However, now it’s time to step back and let them take charge of their own life and take care of themselves.
Kelly M.
10/23/2014 10:38:24 am
Rachael, I thoroughly agree with the topics that you brought up in this entry. Teens now do not have as much responsibility and the point that they need to take charge of their own life is blunt and accurate. Great job!
Marisa B
10/22/2014 02:06:38 pm
The world today is very different than it was in the past. Responsibilities vary as time goes on but today teenagers definitely have more responsibility than teenagers in the past had. In the past, the responsibilities of teenagers consisted of completing the chores you were in charge of, getting good grades, and spending time with families. The morals of people living in the 1900s differed from the morals within teenagers today. A major obligation was to take care of the house by completing chores or watching over younger siblings. Sixteen year old girls played the role of cooking and cleaning which was their major responsibility. In some households today, this is emphasized but not nearly as much as it was in the past. Sixteen year olds today are expected to be well rounded individuals. Although school has and always will be important in every generation, today more pressure is placed on students than in the past. Over 70% of high school students believe that college is a necessity for their life. With this being stated, the responsibilities of most sixteen year olds today have to do with getting good grades. They are also required to be good at sports and strive for perfection in everything done in life. This is because the morals have changed. Most sixteen year olds today go through a day at school, go to sports practice/club meetings for at least two hours, and then come home to over two hours of homework. In the past, most teenagers would go through a day of school as well, come home to do chores/eat dinner with their families and then do an hour of homework. There is an immense amount of responsibility placed on teenagers in every generation, but it is the competition and stress of being good enough that causes the difference between generations. Today the pressure of sixteen year olds to be well rounded is way higher than it was for teenagers in the past.
Julia Hinton
10/22/2014 04:21:42 pm
Today’s modern society has a set standard of rules and expectations that teens are supposed to live up to. This encompasses a large variety of different requirements where teens have to be more responsible than ever before. In the past, teenagers were able to have more lenient rules regarding leisure time and the transition to adulthood was not as prominent compared to now. Purchasing a vehicle and getting your license are some of the first thoughts associated with turning 16 years old and every person wishes to get theirs as soon as possible. In the past parents would instruct the child in driver’s education, a test would be taken, and they would obtain their license. Now earning a driver’s license is a yearlong process filled with hours of driver’s education and testing. This additional instruction time is added to a teen’s already packed schedule. On a typical day, a teen has school, an extracurricular sport, community service, driver’s education, and hours of homework. School has transformed into a complex system where students must independently complete assignments and work for hours on end in order to receive high grades. Even then, there may be exceptions as to if the teacher is pleased with the work that is produced and submitted. The pressures of starting to apply for college are also placed on the individual’s shoulders at a younger age, and this can be a stressful process. Many colleges want participation in extracurricular activities, clubs and community service in addition to completing the time-consuming homework. Deciding your future is also becoming a thought that is addressed early on within one’s schooling. In eighth grade students are already taking surveys as to what profession they might want to go into and then these choices carry through into all of high school. Back then, in many households, children would be responsible for completing their chores, doing their school work, and getting home before a specific time to eat dinner and go to bed. Today teens have moved from these ideas, and now there are other major priorities to attend to. I feel that teens should definitely have certain responsibilities; however, with all of the current expectations added to a teen’s agenda, achieving an acceptable level of success seems almost unattainable at times. The days of spending after school time with friends being “typical teens” is nonexistent in today’s achievement driven culture.
Tim M.
10/23/2014 05:13:53 am
Today teens do not have as much responsibilities compared to like fifty years ago. They were expected to listen to their parents and do what they say. Now teens kind of do what they want and are almost rebellious. About fifty years ago, school was about passing classes, learning information, and getting into college. Now, grades are about who comes out on top and includes spending four terrible years of high school struggling to get good grades just to have the chance to get in a great college. Many teenagers couldn't care less what they learn in school. The teens that do not care could also have parents that don't push them to do good, unlike some that may. Though all in all, it really is the teens responsibility to do good so the can actually get a job and live a good life. Also, teens now want more responsibility but don't realize that it's not as easy and fun as they think. For example wanting a car is something probably every teen wants. But they ail to know that you must pay for gas and insurance which means a lot of work and no free time.
Tom D
10/23/2014 10:28:40 am
I liked how you pointed out how back in the old days school was more about learning and getting into college, but how today its like a big competition for who can get the highest grade and get into the best college. I also think that it's true how teens say they want to be more independent and have more responsibility, but don't realize its not as fun as its made out to be. Over all it was well written and I liked the points you made.
Christopher C.
10/23/2014 11:39:08 am
Nice job, this was very well written. I agree that teens today have very different responsibilities.
Jeet R.
10/23/2014 05:48:11 am
When discussing such a broad topic as whether teens are more resposible than they were in the past, it is impossible to concoct one true answer because responsiblity is such a enigmatic term. The vary nature of the word has puzzled youths for decades, maybe more. In the time of ole', 16 year olds were responsible for chores, cooking, etc. However, in modern time, 16 year olds are responsible for much more such as being trusted drivers, well-rounded students, and successful athletes to name a few. It is also evident that with every technological advancement, responsibility levels rise as well. This responsibility weighs heavy upon teens of today causing stress to build within themselves. The presure to conform and to act responsible is greater now than ever before. Human nature pushes that responsibility is a key to being successful, which in modern day times, is the ultimate goal for every Tom, Dick, and Harry.
Brianna Young
10/23/2014 06:51:53 am
Over the years since the school system was developed, the current teenagers who enroll into these learning environments have great amounts of responsibly forced onto them. In the past, many teens did not have the opportunity to go to school. The young adults have other responsibilities such as taking care of their parents and siblings as well as around the house. Teens were required to help out on their families farm. In recent society, there is no need for every family to have a farm. There are other sources were people could get food from. With this, America as a country not only enforces the importance of education but potential makes teenagers to go to school by law. The government has been changing the way a school system recently on how a teacher should teach students. The officials say that it is "for the better" or "it is more effective for student learning" by adding more assignments/tests required to take. In reality, the work is pressuring and causes half the student population to stay up all night to finish the assented work. This only causes stress and panic throughout teens and most of cry themselves to sleep at the thought of failing school. It is the student's responsibly to try and pass school but sometimes it is just to much. Many people say that hard schooling endures teenagers for the real world as adults and the on takes of responsibility they are required to do. As the result of life, you are only a teen once, and you only live once. Teenagers will eventually grow up and learn the ways of being a sophisticated adult. In simple, a teen should be a teen until that day comes. This doesn't mean a teen should have no responsibility, they are young adults after all, but they should not panic and dread to go to school every morning. Teenagers should not have to worry about assignments when they are hanging out with friends and/or family. The young people should have fun for once. Students can not take the wheel of responsibly when ready if it is already harshly through at them, making the teenagers blindsided.
Jay V
10/23/2014 09:09:31 am
Although it may not be safe for our generation to have so many responsibilities, teenagers in the 21st century do have many more duties than they had in the past. Socially, teenagers have a lot more freedom than they had even 20 years ago. But, as always, freedom has a price: responsibility. Teenagers are now free, but pressured, to decide what college they want to go to, what career they want to pursue, and who they want to marry. In the past, that was all decided by either one's parents or one's social and economical class - people could only marry people of the same caste, a spouse who was usually chosen by their parents, proceed through the levels of education permitted for that caste (sometimes none), and choose a career fit for that caste. Furthermore, politically, teenagers are entrusted with an obligation never given to teens in the past: the ability to vote if one is at or above the age of 18. Though teens in the past were expected to fight for their king or take part in military warfare if they were needed, they never had any power or influence government. Those 18 and above now-a-days are obliged to participate in a process that could change the nation forever - quite a big responsibility. Even knowledgewise, teenagers have a big responsibility to uphold. With the Internet at our fingertips, a teenager now has to be responsible enough not to let the world wide web take over their lives, yet must gain enough knowledge to be considered "well rounded." Teenagers in the past had to learn a thing or two, but never had to memorize or retain as much information as we have to today because the world back then wasn't so small, or so advanced . Of course, the responsibility that a teenager has to their own family has decreased a little from the past - for example, taking care of multiple younger siblings, getting a job at age 13 to get bread on the table - but the responsibilities teens owe to themselves and their own age group has increased exponentially. 10/23/2014 09:38:50 am
Teenagers in this day and age have more responsibility than in years before. We have more responsibility because of our knowledge and access to the world around us. With knowledge comes power, as they say. With all the technology and means of access we have, we have to know how to use that knowledge. The innocence and naïveté of days passed has been completely lost. When my parents were my age, they didn't need to worry about not being able to see danger. If a stranger was talking to them, it was face to face. They couldn't lie and say that they were significantly younger. We have more responsibility today than when my parents were children because we can't see the dangers that strangers impose upon us--we have to rely on intuition and fear. As generations progress, each generation gains more and more responsibility. Think about it: when my grandparents were teenagers, nearing adulthood, they didn't NEED to go to college to get a job and live comfortably. In my parent's day, if they went to college they were guaranteed a job and to live comfortably (not to mention, job stability). Now, we are expected to graduate college with AT LEAST a Master's Degree in a certain subject, and at least five years of experience in a job that we were just taught how to do. How are we expected to get a good paying job and be well-off when a.) college is ridiculously expensive (meaning debts beyond our wildest nightmares), b.) Job instability and unreliability, and c.) Ridiculously high standards to get into colleges, get a job, and keep a job? The suicide rate in America (and especially other places like Asia and Europe) have gone up exponentially amongst teenagers because of the overwhelming stress placed on our shoulders.
Manny A
10/23/2014 10:17:14 am
People are expected to do a lot of things throughout their teenage lives and this can really shape what kind of person they become when they are older. In the olden days, say 50 or 60 years ago, kids always listened and respected their parents with hardly no questions asked, but as the years went by, it seemed teens grew more rebellious. This is mostly because teens nowadays have more responsibilities than they did in the past. Teenagers nowadays constantly stress about the amount of work that is put on them on a regular basis at school. Sometimes the amount of work could be so unbearable that it keeps teens from sleeping and/or participating in after-school activities, not to mention leisure time that is lost. The constant pressure from our parents to do well in school leads some teens to have nervous breakdowns, due to the stress they gain. Parents also expect teens to do chores at home and this usually takes up the little bit of relaxing time they could have had when they weren’t doing homework. As we near driving age, we gain more responsibilities because now parents want teens to do more work including grocery shopping or picking siblings up from various places. In the olden days, teens just had to worry about helping with chores at home and school work to just a certain extent; definitely not as much as we have nowadays. Families were closer in the olden days too because school didn’t get in the way of them spending time with each other. Teens nowadays have so much more responsibilities than those in the past that it is actually quite outrageous. This means that 50 years from now, teens would have even more responsibilities that they must face and the human race would develop to become incredible beings.
Laura W.
10/23/2014 10:21:05 am
Today, as with always, teenagers have varying degrees of responsibility. Upper class kids are stereotyped has having very little responsibility, lower class kids are stereotyped as having a lot of responsibility. Teenagers back in "the day" were expected to act like they knew where they were going in life. What they wanted to be, how they were going to go about doing it, etc. etc. Now, teenagers are "just kids". "Just kids" until they turn 18 and have no idea how to function as an adult. On the other hand, there are some teenagers with a lot of responsibility. Parents who push them in grades and sports, teens who like having tons of extracurricular activities, after school jobs, etc. etc. Perhaps even more responsibility than some teenagers "back in the day". The point is, we can't rightly say whether or not teenagers have more or less responsibility unless we know them personally.
Tom D
10/23/2014 10:23:02 am
I believe teenagers these days do not have as much responsibility as they used to. Back in the old days kids were expected to work first and go to school second, that is if you could send your kid to school. Now days you legally can't get a job until the age of 16, but back then kids were put to work around age ten. Kids now days moan and whine about how hard and stressful school is, however back in the old days ten year olds were plowing fields, working in factory lines, working in the mines, and cutting lumber, to name a few of the more stressful jobs. A key factor in the loss of responsibly among teens is the mass use of cell phone. In todays society if you missed the bus home its ok, you can just dial up your mom and ask for a ride home. Before cell phones, however, you didn't miss the bus, and when you did you weren't able to just send a text to your mom saying "LOL I missed the bus, need a ride." Nope, you had to walk all the way home, by yourself, which also put more responsibility on you, because it has been proven that there were indeed serial killers and child abductors back then too. In comparison the generation we live in today is much less responsible than generations before us.
Kelly M.
10/23/2014 10:36:46 am
Without a doubt, teenagers in the past had much more responsibility than teens do nowadays. Although the past did not have as many helpful sources of technology as we do now, they still needed to do the same amount of work if not more. This goes for in and outside of school. Let’s examine their in-school responsibilities first. If a teen needed a source for an essay, that person could not simply “Google” the answer and be all right. He or she would need to go to the library and get an encyclopedia to look up the simplest of questions. Now, anyone could use a device with the internet on it and look up the exact answers to an essay or worksheet or whatever it may be. Outside of school, teenagers were expected to work and take care of work around the house and usually with their family members. Now, you tell me, when was the last time you saw a twelve year old nowadays working and doing chores? The answer is less than likely. Society has made huge advancements, but with that we have also taken huge steps back in the fact that kids and teenagers do not do anything but go to school and bury their heads in their phones, tablets, and computers. There should not be a gap in what 16 year-olds today should have to do, compared to what they were responsible for in the past. We all, including each and everyone one of us, rely too much on what technology we have now. It is only obvious that we should get back to the basics and start living like we used to: with actual accountability.
Mrs. E
10/23/2014 01:04:04 pm
Well said, Kelly.
Patrick M
10/23/2014 10:39:55 am
The youth of the United States has maintained the same overall qualities for decades, from the disobedience of authority to the division of classes (“jocks” and “nerds”). Now, although the young people of today are linked to those of the past in a broad sense, there was a distinct split from the past to today that was caused by the advent of new technology. With social media, the Internet, and mobile phones being available to almost everyone nowadays, the sharing of thoughts and ideas is faster and easier than during any other time in human history. Almost every piece of recorded history is now available to teenagers through the vast Internet. Because of this, the expectation of teenagers has risen dramatically. In the olden days, they had to look through books and newspapers to find information for projects, essays, and homework, while the youth of today only need to type out a few simple keywords into a search engine, and hundreds of millions of matching results appear in less than a second. With so much information available to teenagers now, they are held to be much more responsible in an academic aspect. There are also practical uses to modern technology, like reminders, notes, digital calendars, alarms, and many more. As these things are all so easily available, there is little excuse for forgetfulness anymore, with smartphones (and thus their apps and functionalities) becoming so commonly used. Technology has ultimately made America’s modern youth more responsible for knowing and remembering important things than the youth of the past.
Hailey H.
10/23/2014 11:01:04 am
I believe that teenagers in the past had way more responsibility than ones do in today's society. Centuries ago, a whole family, including all the children, had to work all day for a family farm or business just to raise enough money to put dinner on the table. Some kids were actually forced to drop out of school to help the family business going and therefore did not receive an education and were stuck working with the family their whole lives. In some cases or different religions, by the age of around thirteen children were responsible for being married, having their own kids and taking care of them, and having a job to help sustain their family. On the other hand, teenagers today have it much easier compared to the past. For example, teens today spend their days in high school receiving an education. A good amount have jobs to raise money for their cars and to save for college. All they have to worry about is if they did good on their math test or not. They rarely think about helping the family receive money for the essentials because the times have changed from that era. Essentially teenagers receive a lot more responsibility when they receive their driver's license because it is considered a huge step in growing up. They now have the freedom of driving where they want, when they want. But at the same time they have the concerns of becoming distracted and getting into an accident. In the past when a person received the privilege of driving, they took it very seriously because they knew it took a lot for the family to get a vehicle for them. In today's era it seems that many teens take driving for granted and think that if they total their car their parent can just fix it. However teenagers today need to realize that many parents still have a hard time with money in today's economy even though it is not the same as in the past. Teenagers today will never realize the amount of responsibility children had in the past compared to now because they will be too worried with who liked their photo and what party they're going to that weekend.
Justin O.
10/23/2014 11:34:00 am
If I had to characterize whether teens today have or more less responsibility, I would definitely look back at some of the stories from my grandparents and say without question that teens today have less responsibility. My grandmother and her sister traveled to the United States alone for several days by boat at the ages of 17 and 19. Together, they made a life here in the United States by getting jobs and paying rent/bills. They came to a country where they did not have the support of their parents and didn’t speak any English. However, they came to find the American dream. I admire that very much. So, when I compare the responsibilities of most teens today to that, I can definitely say teens today have less responsibility in this respect. However, I believe this is because times have changed since my grandparents’ generation. Education is a big focus and is now the stepping stone to achieving the American Dream. So, instead of working and providing for their families, teens are focused on their school work, sports, clubs and social life. All of these are important to create a well rounded student that colleges will find attractive. As a result, it is fair to say teens today have different responsibilities, yet they are not without challenges. Teens may feel pressure to take challenging classes, to play one or more sports, to take part in many extra circular activities. All of this requires responsibility in order to juggle it all and keep grades at acceptable levels. Lastly, I think that teens should enough responsibility so that can learn that not everything is handed to you. All things require work and discipline, and this is how responsibility plays a role in the development of teens to active, socially responsible members of society.
Christopher Conicelli
10/23/2014 11:38:09 am
Teens today have a lot more responsibilities than those in the past, however these responsibilities are very different. Teens now have it way easier when it comes to being responsible. In the past if teens got into trouble they could be waiting long amounts of time before getting any kind of help. Teens now are able to call for emergency services wherever they are at any time. Having these modern conveniences do come with responsibilities though. Today's teens need to be careful when using these devices. They have caused many accidents that could have been avoided if they were not used irresponsibly. Teens in the past did not have any of these distractions that come with alot of todays devices. Modern conveniences have a lot of responsibilities and are the major factor in why teens today have more responsibilities than those in the past did.
Andy S
10/23/2014 12:11:00 pm
Teens today face much more responsibility than in the past. In the past, a teen’s only job was to help with chores and do well with school. Today, teen’s share the same responsibilities, only with more pressure placed on them. Even after school is finished, teens have responsibilities to do. College is the only way teens can get a job today. Getting into college requires good grades and extensive extracurricular participation. Even though a teenager can get a job after college, they’ll spend years paying off their debt. Teenagers’ responsibility are much greater than in the past, effecting the rest of their lives.
kayla a
10/23/2014 12:15:25 pm
Teens have less responsibility today than they did before. In the 1800s, the teens cooked for their parents and served their parents. Today, teens don't do as many chores. Parents mostly cook today than their kids. A 16 year old today should help out more and take responsibility if their life. They should get a Job and focus on school. In the olden days, the teens didn't focus on school but focused on the chores at home. Today, teens have less responsibility.
kayla a
10/23/2014 12:16:36 pm
Julia, I think you used a lot of details and had a good response
Stephanie Barrios
10/23/2014 12:24:57 pm
Today I feel like teens now a day have more responsibility. I hear stories from when my mom was younger about how they would roam the streets all day and night. When you look outside today you really don't see children running around playing. Teens have a responsibility to come home be more vigilant about their surroundings. Teens can't just run around and play games, although I wish they could. More and more people have become aware of people's whereabouts due to social media. Kidnappings have become a more occurring thing then in the 60's. We have to be careful and responsible about what we post and do.
Stephanie B
10/23/2014 12:27:51 pm
Julia, I agree with you teens do have a lot of responsibilities now. And barely any free time.
Heather H.
10/23/2014 12:48:44 pm
Teens in this day and age have much less responsibility than they had years ago. Before cell phones existed, parents would trust their kids to be home by dinnertime. Teens had the freedom to go out without telling anyone where they were going and meet up with friends. No one would question it. Today, it is almost unheard of to go out without either telling someone or taking a phone. Social media makes everything seem more than it is. Now that teens have access to this, it appears as though our generation has 'so much to do' and 'so much responsibility'. Really, it is no more than people our age have ever had. If teens were trusted more, they would have more responsibility. They (at least in Oxford) are typically responsible. Provided that we lived in a smaller town land-wise, we might have even more responsibility. But in the current situation, we are forced to grow up being reliant on our parents. Teenagers could have more responsibility and still wouldn't be as accountable as they were when our parents grew up.
Chris w
10/23/2014 01:34:34 pm
The average day teenager does not have as much freedom as teenagers in the past. Phones, car gps's, and other tracking methods give us no freedom. The word that most comes to mind is cellphone. Almost all teens today own a cell phone. This allows parents to track their kids at all times, giving them no sense of trust. Also, kids twenty years ago would get their licenses to drive as soon as they were eighteen. Today, parent often make their kids wait a year to get their permit. Teens today do not nearly have as much freedom as teens twenty years ago. Comments are closed.
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