The Dumbest Generation

In our first session we watched an interview with Mark Bauerlein talking about his book The Dumbest Generation – How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future (or: Don`t Trust Anyone Under 30).
Mr. Bauerlein argues that teenagers use the internet only to keep in touch with their friends, chatting around and playing online-games. They do not appreciate the possibilities of the internet as a source of information for culture, history or politics. Wasting their time in social networking platforms they have no time left and no interest at all to study for school. Therefore they do not have any knowledge about classical books, significant events in history or important politicians.
In Mr. Bauerlein’s opinion today’s digital culture is a source of danger for the future of America, since America’s future adults neither read books which are rich in content nor visit museums or theatres to learn about history and culture.
Furthermore he addresses the teachers for having the duty to help their students access the “adult world” through books. They should show their students how important books are for their further education and future career.
Mr. Bauerlein makes important points in the interview but since they do not hold for every single youth in America he should be more distinguished in his statements.
I agree with him saying that teenagers spend a lot of time in social networking platforms. They want to stay in contact with their friends, because in their age it is the most natural thing to do. They try to be popular among other teenagers. But I think a distinction is necessary here, because there are also pupils searching for information about a certain topic or event. Not all children are as stupid and ignorant as Mr. Bauerlein asserts.
On the one hand the usage of social networking platforms can be a good opportunity to practice social abilities, writing skills or argumentation techniques. They learn how to express their opinion through written language. These things will become very important in their future lives and careers. On the other hand teenagers may isolate themselves by entering these platforms. They may lose contact with real people around them by going into their room, closing the door and entering the virtual world. It is easier and more comfortable for them to write their opinion via the Internet instead of having to say it into a person’s face. But this real communication is even more important for their future lives. They should meet their friends outside the Internet and do some activity with them where they experience the direct confrontation with a person.
Of course the social networking platforms in the internet are necessary to contact people you known all around the world. But unfortunately several children use them to contact school friends or children from their neighborhood because they are too lazy to meet somewhere.
I disagree with Mr. Bauerlein saying that it is the teachers’ duty to help the children using the internet appropriately. In my opinion it is the parents who should look out for their children’s internet consume. They should show them what great possibilities the internet has to offer to widen one’s horizon and knowledge. Teachers have a supporting role here but not the leading one. That is with the parents since education always starts at home.
Concluding it must be said that although Mr. Bauerlein’s arguments are very generalized and provocative, they include a true nucleus. That is why this course will be very helpful for us future teachers. It deals with the topic of new media in the classroom and how we can use them appropriately. We, the future teachers, have to show our students how to benefit from the opportunities the internet gives us to find new and important information and what alternatives there are to find information. Hopefully this course will teach us how to animate our pupils to get a broader knowledge of the world they live in via the internet. We have to make clear to them how essential their historical, cultural and political knowledge is for their future career.