As a teacher, I spend almost a third of my waking time with teenagers, and the mere question "Are today's youth lacking compassion?" frustrates me. The fact that we're even mentioning this causes youth to doubt themselves.

I spent my Thursday afternoon in a deep discussion with a ninth grade class about what's going on in their lives, and why English class was so impossible to get through that day. I started that class period frustrated with teenagers, and everything that goes along with them. I finished that class period angry with adults, and their condescending attitudes towards today's youth.

It seems to me that many adults today are sitting up in the bleachers watching what's going on, and it's these people who are asking about the state of teenagers today. I hope I'm not wrong in saying that I'm really getting involved, I want to really know what's going on, and I don't question their sincerity for a minute. Of course I recognize that there are some kids who truly don't care, about anything, but I hate to make that sweeping generalization about the whole generation. I saw one of the most shy girls at the front of the class crying as she tried to explain the bittersweet brilliance of the novel Tuesdays with Morrie. I also sat at the side of the class as I heard and saw her classmates encouraging her to be able to finish her presentation, despite the fact that they aren't really good friends. I listened as a fourteen-year-old told their entire class that everyone should pay a little bit closer attention to "Joe" because his parents are going through a messy divorce right now and he's having trouble finding somewhere to fit in.

I'm sure I could list several more examples for you, just from Thursday alone, but the message is going to be the same. Kids care, they just don't always show it. Remember exactly what is going on during the teenage years; kids are increasingly concerned about peer acceptance and are just forming their personal value systems, these are kids who are psychologically vulnerable and believe that their problems are unique and they are alone in the world. This is nothing new, it's the emotional development of a teenager and it has been since the beginning of time. Teenagers are dealing with a lot of things, trying to figure a lot of things out, so it's only natural that they aren't always thinking of others, neither were you when you were a teenager.

No, today's youth do not lack compassion, but it seems that sometimes today's adults do. Questioning their concern for others and their sense of moral belonging shows a complete lack of understanding of teenagers and a total disregard for all the problems they continue to face daily.

Learn more about this author, Charity Newton.
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