Fundamental Shift

Every generation has its list of criticisms. Their music is too loud; fashions too wild; activities too dangerous; and, of course, behaviours too extreme. It is a fact of life, as cyclical as the seasons. As one generation ages, it matures only to find fault with all those that come after it.

I’m certain that parents had just as much to complain about Mozart’s music as other parents did about Elvis’ gyrating hips or Hip Hop’s misogynist lyrics. Is this all just a fact of life, or is there something really to it all?

Despite the fact I am not yet a parent, I am convinced that society has indeed undergone a dramatic (although subtle) change in attitudes towards morality, justice, and acceptable behaviour. As a teacher and a member of Generation X, I am amazed – daily – at the use of vulgar language in our schools. It isn’t hearing students swear that bothers me, it’s the fact that they don’t seem to censor themselves around adults that does.

How are parents permitting their children to speak these days? Do they not realize that by condoning this language in their presence, they are in fact teaching them that this language is acceptable to others in all situations? The fact of the matter is that most adults will agree that when we were all that age, swearing in the presence of our parents (let alone any adults at all) was simply not done. Period. But these days, I hear 12-year-old children regularly using vulgarities as common expletives and parts of speech.

We’ve changed.