THE GENERATION GAP

THE  GENERATION  GAP

1Q     What are the aspects of the rebelliousness of adolescence ?

A          The rebellious attitude in adolescence is due to chilhood experiences. A child wants to do things in his own way which is not encouraged by the adult.

Adolescents want to do things freely even if it will be a failure. This activity of theirs is encouraged.

Even if they are well grown they will always be treated as children which they don’t like.

Their individual choices will not be given weight but to family presteige, name, and other things.

As far as parents dominate their identity is lost. That they don’t like.

Parents always dictate terms which they don’t want to follow.

Either in studies or in daily activities or in marriage elders choice dominates.

Elders always feel that their children, whatever be of their age, should follow the path which they lay.

Most of the works which they are asked to do, are not known to them. So their lack of knowledge leads to irritation.

Because of their friendship, there will be change in their attitude. If it is questioned they refuse to answer.

Sometimes their irritation on somebody changes over onto others without any proper reasoning.

Lack of completitiveness  makes them rebellious.

Some parents who have high expectations of their children always remind them those targets. So some youngsters who can not make their mark make their parents enemies.

Too much attention and care is not liked by the adolescents.

They feel that rebellious attitude can only keep up their position in their family. So they make threatening or violence as their weapon against parents.

The moral and the ethical values which the elders follow may not be  liked by the youngsters.

Thus there are many aspects why adolescents go rebellious.

2Q.   Why do some boys turn their irritation towards their mothers ?

A professional father wants his son to be a professionalist. He wants his son to do good at school, be in good records of his teachers, become a professional man like himself, and live upto the expectations of his family. Such a father tries to be reasonable, generous, and encouraging leader to his son. These attitudes of the father  make it difficult for the son to feel conscious anger towards him or to rebel. To hit his father or even shout at him would be almost inconceivable. So most of such boys remain respectful towards their fathers and shift all their irritation towards their mothers.

3Q.   Why does ‘school failure’ occur ?

A.         ‘School failure’ is today’s burning problem. There are many reasons for this.

            At school level, student’s mind is not so matured. Single mindedness is more. Whatever is taught is learnt well.

            In adolescence, he starts analyzing the utility of each subject according to his state of mind. He feel that they are not worth reading. Suddenly he stops learning.

            At university level, if the student is not clever enough, he gains a fear of high competition and suspects himself if he may not do good.

            Whatever be the parents’ ambitions of a student, they pressurize them on their son and expect high gains of achievement. 

            If the student is dull, cannot reach to the expectations of his parents, out of his inefficiency hates studies and creates revenge on his elders.

            There are someother factors also which lead to school failure. They are, teaching is not interesting and encouraging;  the school atmosphere may not be good;  financial problems;  lack of good encouragement;  friends circle may not be good; and so on.

5Q    What are the three principal elements that go to make up the identity an  individual finally achieves.

A.         Advance of the civilization, technical inventions, and scientific discoveries are rich for research. Here an adolescent is finding a purpose of studying and a reason to continue his studies. He can easily guess what will be his future if he takes up such and such course. He is sure of his future. He is sure of what identity he is going to gain.

6Q    What are the dos and don’ts for parents in rearing up children ?

A.         This is the age of globalization. The world is turning into a global village. The child born in the present age is faster in decisions,  is seeing a lot of things which were impossible to parents, 20 years back. The old traditional way of bringing up children is out dated. Today’s child can grasp things fast.

Parents should not;

put targets and persuade them to achieve their goals;

impose their beliefs, customs, etc on the youngsters;

expect high ideals or goals in the youngsters;

Parents should;

Guide the children to do things in a better way;

Always help children to solve their problems;

Be a complementary in child’s life but not a dictator.

7Q.   Write about the ways in which the generation gap can be bridged.

A          Marx said, “ Negation of negation.”

            According to this one generation negates the ideas, beliefs etc. of its previous generation. It is because

[a]       of knowledge gap.

[b]       less traditional and conventional than the previous generation

[c]       latest infra structure available to do things in a fine way than the previous one,

[d]       less commitment towards even primary things,

[e]       more materialistic than idealistic,

[f]        availability of more resources than once,

[g]       wide range of choice to  select

[h]       educational influence

[i]        technological progress etc.

            The best way to bridge the two generations is 

1.         The older generation should change its frame to understand the next generation,

2.         The older generation should get rid of their egos,

3.         The older generation should relinquish their feelings that they are elder, so they are to be obeyed,

4.         The older generation should realize that most of the things which are seeing now at the end of their lives is the beginning point to the young,

5.         The struggle to survive is high today than in those days,

6.         As a child comes up  to adolescence he should be treated as a friend,

7.         The young  will understand if said in a convincing and logical way than by force,

8.         The young will have some preconceived notions which should be gotten rid off slowly but not abruptly,

9.         The present ones do not have childhood. From third year onwards they are sent to school. Whenever they get holidays, immediately they are sent to some sort of coaching. So they do not have time to enrich human values.

10.       If both mother and father are earning members there will be less chances for interaction. Years pass but they cannot come together.

11.       Most of the things which were free to the previous generation, have become commodities in this generation. Eg. Water       

            If all these things are considered by the elders and understood in a sympathetic way the gap can be lessened between the generations.

 If needed they should come down one step to give a helping hand to raise the present ones from various crises and protect them from this mad race.