Has the iGeneration Arrived?

by Dr. Larry Rosen author of "Rewired: Understanding the iGeneration and the Way They Learn"




Defining and understanding a generation of Americans has always been difficult until years after the generation ends. Although there is universal agreement on the Baby Boomer generation (1946-1964) and most people agree that Generation X started in 1965 and ended around 1979, after that it gets murky. In my research and writing I believe that the “Net Generation” started in 1980 when those future Internet users were born. Others have called this Generation Y, Millennial Generation, and Generation M, but I think that the defining feature has always been the importance of the Internet in the lives of these children, teens, and young adults.


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Teacher suspended over Facebook comments

Story: Apex teacher suspended after parents question Facebook comments


After a classroom conversation about evolution, a child thought it would be a nice gesture to give his teacher a Bible. Rather than handle the situation like a mature adult, she decided to open up a Facebook rant and referred to the incident as a hate crime. Her friends chimed in with replies about "ignorant Southern rednecks" and swastikas. I guess some teacher aren't familiar with the concept of behind closed doors.


Red-haired boy beat up on "Kick a Ginger Day"


Story: Attack on Calabasas boy probed for tie to Facebook group

The cartoon South Park inspired teens and preteens to start a Facebook page targeting redheads. November 20th was the official "Kick a Ginger Day." It resulted in red-haired school children getting beat up, punched, kicked and harassed all day. Something this silly was able to spread so fast and inspire kids everywhere to inflict random violence on innocent classmates. If only educators could capture the power that social networking holds over our youth...


Teens' sexy pics on MySpace spark lawsuit

Story: Sexy pics on MySpace spark lawsuit

While on summer break, a couple girls decided to take a couple sexy pictures of themselves and post them on MySpace. The school principal felt it was well-within his rights to suspend the girls from playing sports and participating in other extra-curricular activities all year. Since the principal has no business telling kids what they can do outside of school, you guessed it, a lawsuit is being filed. Just worry about providing a decent education, don't let it bother you if girls act slutty.


Teachers Fight Over Man In Front Of Students

Story: Teachers Fight Over Man In Front Of Students

High school love triangles are always so interesting to watch unfold. This time, the students had front row seats as two of their female teachers duked it out over a male teacher they both liked. The tragic ending of this story occurs when children learn that it is acceptable to settle disputes with violent public reactions. Gotta love paid, professional role models!


Student Suspended 180 Days For Facebook Message


Story: Student Suspended 180 Days For Facebook Message

A couple girls at his school were threatening to fight each other via facebook messages. Keshaun Harley chimed in and posted, "You're not going to bust a grape." While I'd like to believe he was just quoting an LL Cool J song, the principal is chalking this up to "cyber-bullying" and suspending the boy an entire school year. Oh, and let's remind everyone that none of this took place on school property. The principal allegedly spent the night looking in a mirror flexing and saying "You're the man!"


Student Sues Coach Over Facebook Message


Here's the gist of what happened: A coach asked a cheerleader for her facebook password. For some unknown reason, she gave it to him. He then sifted through her personal emails and found some discriminating comments about the cheer squad to hold against her. She is now suing for $100 million dollars. After hearing this story, one thing becomes clear: common sense and the value of money are not widely taught in Mississippi schools.


Fort Worth girl teen stabbed after MySpace spat

Story: Fort Worth girl teen stabbed after MySpace spat


One girl says some mean things on MySpace so the other girl lodges a pair of scissors in her. Problem solved. Authorities were more shocked to learn that these girls still actually use MySpace. Classmates immediately Twittered the incident.


Fewer students turn pages of yearbooks in digital age

Story: Fewer students turn pages of yearbooks in digital age


If they were smart, schools would get on top of this and buy a bunch of domain names to begin hosting digital yearbooks for the future. Statistics are showing that some yearbook sales have dropped as much as 50%. Tough break for Jostens, but it seems teens aren't as stimulated by these over-priced memoirs as they are by the internet and cell phones.


Classroom locked down after Facebook threat

Story: Classroom locked down after Facebook threat

Our forefathers had to deal with similar inconveniences, I am sure. This is more than likely just a kid who didn't want to go back to school after winter break. Well, while he is serving his 10 days suspension, he will have more time to finish his World of WarCraft game.


Student Sues Over Facebook Suspension

Story: Former Student Sues Over Facebook Suspension

Basically, the student posted a picture of her teacher with a caption that read "... the worst teacher I've ever met..." So since the girl did it from a home computer, and it posed no immediate threat or suggestion of hate or violence, the principal felt it was his obligation to suspend her from school. Maybe a better idea, would be for the principal to use some of that energy to focus on why students are completely unhappy with some of their teachers. Because as we all know, Florida has had its share of bad teachers.


Facebook postings land N.C. teachers in hot water

Story: Facebook postings land N.C. teachers in hot water

Since Facebook is open for the world to see, this teacher wanted to make one thing clear: That she hates her ghetto students. Other faced discipline for sharing their stories and pictures about drinking and having sex. But their personal lives aside, nothing is more discouraging than reading about a teacher who emphatically dislikes her job. Hopefully this helps solve the mystery about why schools are failing.


Teen arrested after school threat on Facebook

"Summer dreams, ripped at the seams."
Story: NY teen arrested after school threat on Facebook

The reason behind threatening to "kill everyone in the school?" To extend her summer vacation. It's a tall order to take out an entire school, especially for an honor student with no history of violent behavior. But you got your wish sweetheart, you didn't have to go back to class on the first day. So now she can add a criminal record to her list of fun things she accomplished during her wonderful summer break.


Cop calls teen girls MySpace pics "slutty" at High school lecture

Story: MySpace lecture generates outrage

An officer held an assembly where he pulled up pictures from MySpace of students in that high school. OK, this proves how easily accessible your information is, fine. He then went on to single girls out and describe how sexual predators would have no problem masturbating to these "slutty" pics and if given the chance, try to rape them. As you can imagine, these graphic details are when the outrage begins. For some unknown reasons, parents didn't like a cop calling their daughters sluts.


Miss. school district bars teacher-student texting

Story: Miss. school district bars teacher-student texting

It's about time. You're telling me they haven't gotten around to forming this policy until now? Are teachers allowed to call students on home phones? Exactly. It's getting harder and harder to get away with steamy teacher-student relationships.


Canadian university threatens to expel a student for Facebook study group



STORY: Canadian university faces off with digital generation

James Norrie, director of the School of Information Technology Management at Ryerson, was also rumored to be planning an expulsion of engineering students, for having the potential to build firearms that could potentially be brought on campus. He has also allegedly started proceedings to have the entire atmospheric science department shut down, in an attempt to stop global warming.

Send hate mail letters of encouragement to:
James Norrie
jlnorrie@ryerson.ca
Or phone in a personal message to:
(416) 979-5000, key in '1' then the extension 5287




Student suspended because of MySpace messages


I went to school with kids who drew pictures of devil's emblems on the cover of their math books. We just kind of left them alone and I am pretty sure they went on to graduate high school like the rest of us.
Now we are pigeon-holing a 13-year old as Satatic because he wrote some negative comments about people he didn't like. And he did this at home, nonetheless. Again, let's admit he might be confused at his age, but lets not fuel his anger by continuing to outcast him.


Students suspended after photos appear on Facebook


Students suspended after photos appear on Facebook

Big Brother is always watching. And apparently so is your principal.


 
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