What wrong with kids today to do this of all places 9/11 memorial

[disney david]

what give the kids the right to think they can throw their trash in the refracting pool at the memorial. I don't care how bored you are or if you care to be their you need to show respect or stay home that day. May be mayor bloomberg should worry more on his disrespectfully kids in public school more then if stores sells large sodas. Sorry if I offend anyone I just don't think it right what they did and the excuse they gave is worse then the offense.

http://t.co/LCQE5AC6

 

[darrengs]

Disgraceful!

 

[SamSam]

Terrible behavior. I agree with the article on punsihment but I would add community service, perhaps trash clean up at the memorial site several hour a week for a month.

 

[Cherinva]

Bad behavor...

 

[serene56]

so if I read this article right-- because these kids were only toddlers when it happened they do not need to respect the property since they have no idea what happened that day? (talk about mindless excuses)

(i dont know but I was not around for world world 2 - either were my children but they know to respect the 'stuff"

 

[Michele]

Or you would think that, if whoever planned this trip expected them to not care because they were only 3 years old when it happened, then why take them. Or at least have a few discussions ahead of time explaining the importance, showing videos, etc to help them realize.


I have to say we traveled to Washington DC last and Philadelphia and NYC this year and most all of the school groups we saw seemed to care less where they were or what they were seeing. They just seemed glad to not be in school. Not paying any attention to the historic sights. They should spend time studying and learning about these things before they waste the time taking the trip. Or maybe they shouldn't go at such a young age when they pretty much don't care about anything anyone of authority has to say.

We waited until our boys were 16-18 to make these trips so they would take the time to realize the importance of what they were seeing.

 

[LilGMom]

Things like what those kids did really get my knickers in a bunch!!! I wasn't around when Pearl Harbor happened or the Vietnam War but there is no way in high heaven that I'd be that disrespectful of a memorial like those little snots.

Since they were just wee little babies when 9/11 happened I think that they should be made to do some community service with injured armed service members or be made to listen to some of the survivors of 9/11 or maybe listen to what people that lost loved ones during 9/11 have to say. My oldest child was only three months old when 9/11 happened but at eleven years old now he understands showing respect at memorials.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Respect? Seems kids don't know the meaning of the word. Did you see the video of the ones who verbally abused the school bus monitor? It was beyond disturbing what they said to a 65 year old woman. Respect is taught at home, the parents who shrug their shoulders and say "I don't know why my child would do such a thing" only need to look in a mirror.

 

[pxlbarrel]

It's not just kids though. They seemed to be the worse offenders, mind you. I was at the memorial on Veterans Day last year. I can't count the number of people who mindlessly draped themselves over the names for the sake of a photo or whatever... or posing for photos smiling like it was the happiest place on earth.

I went there and nearly burst into tears. It is one of the solemnest places that I have ever been and to treat it like a typical tourist attraction seems wrong to me.

 

[sayhello]

Hello, Ahmed!

I think the teachers are definitely to blame for this, for not properly preparing the kids to appreciate what they were seeing. Yes, the parents caused the kids to be so disrespectful, but the teachers created the situation where they had the opportunity and the motivation to show it. JMHO YMMV.

Sayhello

 

[UConnFan]

Hello, Ahmed!

I think the teachers are definitely to blame for this, for not properly preparing the kids to appreciate what they were seeing. Yes, the parents caused the kids to be so disrespectful, but the teachers created the situation where they had the opportunity and the motivation to show it. JMHO YMMV.

Sayhello

I agree. I think it's unfair to generalize all children as disrespectful. Parents and teachers need to set the children up for success by fully explaining the significance of where they are. In my experience with children, if they are educated, they "get it."

 

[BilltM]

Hello, Ahmed!

 

[eeyorethegreat]

1. It isn't just a kids disrespect thing- have you noticed the adults around you? Kids learn what they see and hear. As far as the teachers not preparing the kids really we don't know that is true. The teachers may very well have talked to the kids about the respect and solemness of the place they were going. They were from Brooklyn, really they aren't that far removed from where it all happened so you know it really should be a given that the kids would understand that this was a place that mature behavior would be expected. These kids are old enough to know that visiting a memorial is not like visiting a carnival (not that throwing trash and various items around is acceptable there either but is is a different atmosphere). I don't believe that teachers preparing the students would have made a difference. In fact I wouldn't be shocked if proper ettiquette had been discussed and a group of kids decided it would be great fun to push the limits regardless. I am sure the teachers were horrified.

2. "One student explained to the Daily News the kids just weren't adequately entertained. “No one was disrespecting. It wasn’t nothing like that,” said the student. “No one was being serious. Everyone was kind of bored and it was just something to do.” A teacher called it "an absolute disgrace." "

We live in a time where kids expect to be entertained every waking minute and many parents/ adults cater to entertaining kids rather than allowing kids to use their imaginations, be active in a positive way. It is far easier to let a kid have the latest game system, cell phone, gadget or let them watch TV than it is to take time to actually interact with children and be a positive role model. which leads to...
3. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings and cousins tradidtionally in years ago were those role models. Now families may live miles apart, parents are too busy and tired or self absorbed to expend the energy on the children that once would have. "Kids today" is really an example of adults today. It isn't all related to dysfunction either. I believe that many adults just don't realize the importance of their role in raising well rounded respectful children. They work odd hours or many hours to make ends meet, try to further their careers, juggle other adult responsibilities and many times it is in an effort to give their children all they didn't have. Unfortunately what happens is kids end up losing out on the most important thing that they need: their parents.

In short, which this wasn't, this isn't about "kids today" it is about what is happening to kids today because of "adults today".

 

[fall08CP]

What's wrong with kids these days? Hmmm remember who raised them?

 

[kaligal]

Parents don't want to make the kids behave, they want them to feel good.

Teachers don't want to bore them with endless facts, they want to entertain them in a dynamic, fluid, empowering way...and make them feel good.

Not all parents and not all teachers, but a LOT of them.

As a result, we have a LOT of bratty, disrespectful, obnoxious children and teens. They don't know very much, but they feel like they can do no wrong because they are praised and rarely, if ever, really punished.

Everyone is so busy telling these kids how special they are that they don't EVER tell them anyone might be serving of respect, much less any thing. the kid always has to be the most special.

After that Karen Klein business, one of the parents of the kids involved actually said his son made, and I quote, "a stupid mistake." A stupid mistake. There is just no hope for some parents...or their kids.

It is out of control.

 

[SamSam]

Parents don't want to make the kids behave, they want them to feel good.

Teachers don't want to bore them with endless facts, they want to entertain them in a dynamic, fluid, empowering way...and make them feel good.

Not all parents and not all teachers, but a LOT of them.

As a result, we have a LOT of bratty, disrespectful, obnoxious children and teens. They don't know very much, but they feel like they can do no wrong because they are praised and rarely, if ever, really punished.

Everyone is so busy telling these kids how special they are that they don't EVER tell them anyone might be serving of respect, much less any thing. the kid always has to be the most special.

After that Karen Klein business, one of the parents of the kids involved actually said his son made, and I quote, "a stupid mistake." A stupid mistake. There is just no hope for some parents...or their kids.

It is out of control.

They've actually started doing studies indicating that young adults today are having trouble in all aspects of their lives (work especially) because they been raised getting praised for nothing.

When my daugher was in grade school, we had one PE teacher, in charge of the end of year celebrations, who decided that it was too hard on kids to give out 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place ribbon...everyone is a winner was her the new way she ran things....Wow, not exactly preparing kids for life.

I'm all for giving children praise (that they deserve), but too often it's became praise your child regardless of their behavior.

 

[kaligal]

They've actually started doing studies indicating that young adults today are having trouble in all aspects of their lives (work especially) because they been raised getting praised for nothing.

When my daugher was in grade school, we had one PE teacher, in charge of the end of year celebrations, who decided that it was too hard on kids to give out 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place ribbon...everyone is a winner was her the new way she ran things....Wow, not exactly preparing kids for life.

I'm all for giving children praise (that they deserve), but too often it's became praise your child regardless of their behavior.

I am all for praising children who have done something remarkable.

It is the business of teaching them that they are remarkable simply because they exist that I take issue with.

I still have not been able to get through the whole Karen Klein video.

What these kids did is not as bad as what those sadistic little monsters did to that old woman...but it is yet another example of rotten kids who feel that they can do whatever they please...and don't even feel badly about it afterwards.

They were bored. The adults in their lives committed the unpardonable sin of not making them the center of the universe. For a short period, they were not entertained, so OF COURSE they would do something rotten.

Trick or treat! Entertain us or else!

But, they feel good about themselves. They might deface memorials or verbally and physically assault old women, but they are proud of themselves. Their parents and teachers must be beaming. Mission accomplished.

 

[Haywardhauler]

As a 1st responder (EMT) I wanted to wait until the appropriate time to pay my respects at ground zero. I knew it was going to be an emotional day but nothing prepared me for what I was abiut to experience. We got tickets via the web site, although we found out from numerous NYPD officers that anyone "on the job" who had their shield or Dept ID could get tickets the same day (same for active military).

We started at 10-10 House across the street. The mural blew me away. I am not usually an emotional person, but I began to cry. 2 thoughts went thru my mind 1. Why did all these guys have to die that day and 2. I am a POS becasue I was not part of the rescue / recovery effort (my dept at the time was advised that we were going to be part of a statewide mutal aid response, but becasuse the lack of victims we were advised to stand down 48 hours into the incident).

We then went over to the church (St Pauls) where they did rehab for all the first responders. Again, I was hit with another wave of emotion, especially when saw the HUGE pile of patches from all of the first reponders who had visited the church and/or "worked the pile"

Finally it was time to head to the WTC Memorial site. I was totally impressed with the level of security and the heavy NYPD presense. It was the safest place in the city that day. Although I did not know any of the responders who made the ultimate sacrafice I knew many of their stories. In fact I attended one of the funerals for one of the officers from 252 Squad who died on 9/11 (his son was born 26 days after the attacks). When I got to the section of all the first responders I totally lost it. Again, why did these guys have to die? why? Well no sooner do I finally pull myself together I went from sad to angry in a heartbeat when I saw people taking group shots in front of the memorial ! They were making like they were taking family photos in front of Cinderella's Castle! I was totally cranked. Yes, I took pics of the site and the names of the brave but I could not believe what I was seeing! It is not the Magic Kingdom. This is sacred ground where thousands of people lost their lives that tragic day. Out of respect to the fallen I kept my mouth shut and told my wife it was time to go find a bar and raise a pint to all the brothers who died that day.

 

[ninecrayons]

I wanted to weigh in on this thread as a teacher who taught for 6 years in NYC, in almost the same neighborhood as these students were from. And trust me, I've seen some field trip insanity in my day.

Firstly, what happened was inexcusable. What those students did was not acceptable and no excuse can or should be made for them.

However, what SayHello said about blaming the teacher definitely struck a chord with me.

In one of his books, Rafe Esquith a famous educator, talks about taking students to a baseball game. Everyone else at his school loads the kids into the bus and those kids run around like crazy, buying souvenirs, eating food, throwing popcorn, etc. They leave before the game is over and call it a success. Esquith's class has watched Ken Burns' "Baseball" documentary, knows how to keep score, etc. They stay the whole game and enjoy it because it has become important to them.

This sounds so much like a similar situation to me.

The school year in NYC just ended yesterday. Every school that I've been at and every school that I know colleagues at STRONGLY encourages field trips at the end of the year. Grades are in, kids are antsy - let's get them out of the building! I'm sure this trip fell under "Where can we take them that's free and moderately educational?"

I don't know if students learned about this or even if students were briefed on where they were going or not. However, so much can be said through their actions about whether or not this was made relevant or important to them.

While some might argue that children should know what to do, should know how to behave, etc - unless these expectations are specifically named and practiced, you're just crossing your fingers and hoping for the best. Case in point - a former colleague took 6th grade students to the Met every year as part of her Greek and Rome unit. She expressed to students what they were going to see and some statues were going to be naked, etc but they were scholars and here's how scholars' approached things. Nobody giggled or laughed and all went well.

Yes, some behaviors are learned from parents. Yes, I agree that meaninglessly encouraging people (adults or students) has huge ill effects. However I totally believe it's in the hands of each educator out there to change it. It takes time, yes. It's difficult and frustrating, yes. However when you have a system where students are responsible for themselves and others? It's where true learning and true fun happen. Just MHO.

 

[disney david]

As a 1st responder (EMT) I wanted to wait until the appropriate time to pay my respects at ground zero. I knew it was going to be an emotional day but nothing prepared me for what I was abiut to experience. We got tickets via the web site, although we found out from numerous NYPD officers that anyone "on the job" who had their shield or Dept ID could get tickets the same day (same for active military).

We started at 10-10 House across the street. The mural blew me away. I am not usually an emotional person, but I began to cry. 2 thoughts went thru my mind 1. Why did all these guys have to die that day and 2. I am a POS becasue I was not part of the rescue / recovery effort (my dept at the time was advised that we were going to be part of a statewide mutal aid response, but becasuse the lack of victims we were advised to stand down 48 hours into the incident).

We then went over to the church (St Pauls) where they did rehab for all the first responders. Again, I was hit with another wave of emotion, especially when saw the HUGE pile of patches from all of the first reponders who had visited the church and/or "worked the pile"

Finally it was time to head to the WTC Memorial site. I was totally impressed with the level of security and the heavy NYPD presense. It was the safest place in the city that day. Although I did not know any of the responders who made the ultimate sacrafice I knew many of their stories. In fact I attended one of the funerals for one of the officers from 252 Squad who died on 9/11 (his son was born 26 days after the attacks). When I got to the section of all the first responders I totally lost it. Again, why did these guys have to die? why? Well no sooner do I finally pull myself together I went from sad to angry in a heartbeat when I saw people taking group shots in front of the memorial ! They were making like they were taking family photos in front of Cinderella's Castle! I was totally cranked. Yes, I took pics of the site and the names of the brave but I could not believe what I was seeing! It is not the Magic Kingdom. This is sacred ground where thousands of people lost their lives that tragic day. Out of respect to the fallen I kept my mouth shut and told my wife it was time to go find a bar and raise a pint to all the brothers who died that day.

Thanks for bein an emt and answering the call to help for people you don't know not that to do it for praise but police fire and ems always deserve the upmost respect we can give. Not only is it NYPD who secures the site it also port authority police and the federal gov which you won't see as much as the uniformed officers.