When I was a freshman, one of our design teachers often complained about how much our generation had changed and how difficult it was to teach us.
Of course, every generation is different. Technology, culture, attention spans, and the way people learn all change over time. But isn't it also the responsibility of a teacher to adapt?
If an old teaching method is no longer as effective as it used to be, shouldn't a teacher look for new ways to communicate, engage, and teach effectively rather than simply blaming the new generation?
A good teacher doesn't necessarily have to abandon traditional methods, but they should be willing to question whether those methods are still working.
There is a difference between saying “students today learn differently” and saying “students today are worse.”
The first is an observation that calls for adaptation. The second turns a teaching challenge into a complaint about an entire generation.
Every generation changes. Perhaps the real measure of a good teacher isn't whether they can teach students who think like they did, but whether they can find a way to teach students who don't.
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1August 16, 2026 1.7K 3
