the dumbest generation

[wehav]

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=104&sid=2063747

"Second-graders who can't tie shoes or zip jackets. Four-year-olds in Pull-Ups diapers. Five-year-olds in strollers. Teens and preteens befuddled by can openers and ice-cube trays. College kids who've never done laundry, taken a bus alone or addressed an envelope."

[Iowa notiller]

Can't blame the kids on this. Why haven't the parents taught them.

[bruce MN]

Had exactly the same thoughts. Unless they were raised in an orphanag e where they we just lef tot sit all day or something likethat. What is appalling is the parent who would publicly admit to this.

I'm guessing that they are more the product of the incessantly entitled generation of 30 something parents who cut their consumer and social teeth early in this last bubble when it looked like everything came easy and for free. The Clinton kids. Now become children raising children.

[Samnospam]

Some of the things mentioned are strictly archaic skills.    I imagine there was a time  when some old fart ranted about how kids were too dumb to know about stabling horses.  

Single parent households might well have something to do with it, as well as the breakdown of the extended family.   Time is a major constraint also.  Two career parents with kids that bring home 3 hours of homework every night doesn't leave a great deal of time for life skills training.

Knapper probably thinks we're all idjits because we can't make a decent stone projectile point.

[ewright2986006]

I had never done laundry or taken a city bus before I went off to college. Mom combined all of us kids clothes to make full loads, and then we were expected to sort it back out and fold. And until I went to Purdue I had never stayed overnight (not counting band trips) someplace where there were city buses. I did have a lot of experience with school buses. I was in my mid 30s before I ever flew commercial or rode a subway, and then it was in Tokyo. I've still never ridden a subway or light rail in this country.

[schnurrbart]

In case you missed it, havnot called you a dumbsh*t!

[kraft-t]

We don't have those problems in our family. I wonder whar went wrong with yours.

[wehav]

There is summer vacation without all that homework.

There is also a difference between a pet and a child.  (not knocking you)  Too many people have kids that believe children are either just little people or they believe that children are pets.