NewYorkSuperintenden tsOct2007

The Millennial Generation: Implications for K-12 School Leadersby William StraussNew York State Council of SuperintendentsOctober 1, 2007: 

The Millennial Generation: Implications for K-12 School Leaders by William Strauss New York State Council of Superintendents October 1, 2007 www.williamstrauss.com

 Disney’s High School Musical hit the Millennial sweet spot. upbeatdoing, not thinkingambitious & achievingall for the team no risky behavioraffluent: 

Disney’s High School Musical hit the Millennial sweet spot. upbeat doing, not thinking ambitious & achieving all for the team no risky behavior affluent

Winning words in the National Spelling Bee:  1920s: luxuriance, abrogate 1930s: fracas, promiscuous 1940s: therapy, initials 1950s: psychiatry, condominium 1960s: abalone, sycophant 1970s: croissant, vouchsafe 1980s: milieu, luge 1990s: lyceum, kamikaze: 

Winning words in the National Spelling Bee: 1920s: luxuriance, abrogate 1930s: fracas, promiscuous 1940s: therapy, initials 1950s: psychiatry, condominium 1960s: abalone, sycophant 1970s: croissant, vouchsafe 1980s: milieu, luge 1990s: lyceum, kamikaze

Winning words in the National Spelling Bee:  2001: succedaneum 2002: prospicience 2003: pococurante 2004: appoggiatura 2005: autochthonous 2006: ursprache: 

Winning words in the National Spelling Bee: 2001: succedaneum 2002: prospicience 2003: pococurante 2004: appoggiatura 2005: autochthonous 2006: ursprache

OMG, LOL, ROTFL,ROTFLOL, LMAO.K? OK. K? K? JK. -- Edit:Undo: 

OMG, LOL, ROTFL, ROTFLOL, LMAO. K? OK. K? K? JK. -- Edit:Undo

In the history of polling, no generations of young people ever got along worse with their parents than Boomers,… and none have ever gotten along better with their parentsthan Millennials. : 

In the history of polling, no generations of young people ever got along worse with their parents than Boomers,… and none have ever gotten along better with their parents than Millennials.

 The “Generation” and American History : 

The “Generation” and American History

Fifteen Generations of U.S. Citizens: 

Fifteen Generations of U.S. Citizens

Throughout American history, no generation has ever been a linear extension of the one born just before. : 

Throughout American history, no generation has ever been a linear extension of the one born just before.

Each generation “rebels” by…Breaking stylistically from its pop culture makers.Correcting the “mistakes” of its parents and leaders.Filling a social role vacated by a dying generation. : 

Each generation “rebels” by… Breaking stylistically from its pop culture makers. Correcting the “mistakes” of its parents and leaders. Filling a social role vacated by a dying generation.

GENERATIONS & HISTORY: 

GENERATIONS & HISTORY

Generations and Education : 

Generations and Education

Educational “Endowments”: 

Educational “Endowments”

A generation founded the first colonial schools—and taught the generation that founded the first public schools—and taught the generation that founded the colleges—and taught the generation that founded state universities—and taught the generation that built high schools—and taught the generation that made high school completion the norm—and taught Boomers who made college the norm—and are teaching Millennials. : 

A generation founded the first colonial schools—and taught the generation that founded the first public schools—and taught the generation that founded the colleges—and taught the generation that founded state universities—and taught the generation that built high schools—and taught the generation that made high school completion the norm—and taught Boomers who made college the norm—and are teaching Millennials.

In each historic era, a different set of generations occupies the roles of…StudentsParentsTeachersAdministratorsCivic leadersVoters: 

In each historic era, a different set of generations occupies the roles of… Students Parents Teachers Administrators Civic leaders Voters

GenerationsofLiving Memory : 

Generations of Living Memory

MissionaryGeneration: 

Missionary Generation

When Missionaries ran the schools,…the “high school movement” producedthe most successful educationalreform in U.S. history.  : 

When Missionaries ran the schools,… the “high school movement” produced the most successful educational reform in U.S. history.

The median education rose from 8.3 to 11.3 years.The percentage of 9th graders who graduated in four years rose from 15% to 50%.Women nearly equaled men, in high school and college.  : 

The median education rose from 8.3 to 11.3 years. The percentage of 9th graders who graduated in four years rose from 15% to 50%. Women nearly equaled men, in high school and college.

LOSTGeneration: 

LOST Generation

Educational endowments by Lost:Standardized testingVocational education First married women teachers: 

Educational endowments by Lost: Standardized testing Vocational education First married women teachers

G.I.Generation: 

G.I. Generation

G.I.s were a generation of declining immigration and improving youth trends. : 

G.I.s were a generation of declining immigration and improving youth trends.

Historic purpose of educating G.I.’s:Protect youth from corrupting social forces (1920s).Serve civic goals (1930s). : 

Historic purpose of educating G.I.’s: Protect youth from corrupting social forces (1920s). Serve civic goals (1930s).

Educational endowments by G.I.s:Post-Sputnik reforms School desegregationTop-caliber women teachers: 

Educational endowments by G.I.s: Post-Sputnik reforms School desegregation Top-caliber women teachers

SILENTGeneration: 

SILENT Generation

Silent were a generation of low immigration and steady youth trends. : 

Silent were a generation of low immigration and steady youth trends.

Historic purpose of educating Silent:Stay in background. (1940s)Conform. Socialize. (1950s) : 

Historic purpose of educating Silent: Stay in background. (1940s) Conform. Socialize. (1950s)

Educational endowments by Silent:Bilingual & multiculturaleducation Funding antipoverty programs: 

Educational endowments by Silent: Bilingual & multicultural education Funding antipoverty programs

BOOM Generation: 

BOOM Generation

Boomers were a generation of rising immigration and worsening youth trends. : 

Boomers were a generation of rising immigration and worsening youth trends.

Historic purpose of educating Boomers:Craft idealists & individualists to resist authoritarianism. : 

Historic purpose of educating Boomers: Craft idealists & individualists to resist authoritarianism.

Gen Xers were a generation of high immigration and mixed youth trends. : 

Gen Xers were a generation of high immigration and mixed youth trends.

When Boomers were kids, 2 of every 3 moms said they’d stay in a bad marriage for the sake of the kids. When Gen Xers were kids, 2 of every 3 moms said they wouldn’t. : 

When Boomers were kids, 2 of every 3 moms said they’d stay in a bad marriage for the sake of the kids. When Gen Xers were kids, 2 of every 3 moms said they wouldn’t.

A Brief Chronology of the Evil-Child Movie Era: 

A Brief Chronology of the Evil-Child Movie Era

Historic purpose of educating Gen Xers:Adapt to changes in culture, family, and society. Advance non-academic causes. : 

Historic purpose of educating Gen Xers: Adapt to changes in culture, family, and society. Advance non-academic causes.

Ourselves and Our ChildrenOpen Classrooms“Open Education”New MathChildren’s RightsLess HomeworkProposition 13Declining Teacher Pay: 

Ourselves and Our Children Open Classrooms “Open Education” New Math Children’s Rights Less Homework Proposition 13 Declining Teacher Pay

“There is no minimum body of knowledge which it is essential for everyone to know.”  -- Roland Barthes: 

“There is no minimum body of knowledge which it is essential for everyone to know.” -- Roland Barthes

Millennial Generation: 

Millennial Generation

Millennials could become a generation of declining immigration and already are a generation of improving youth trends. : 

Millennials could become a generation of declining immigration and already are a generation of improving youth trends.

Gen Xers are the largest immigrant generation born in the 20th Century, and are known for diversity.: 

Gen Xers are the largest immigrant generation born in the 20th Century, and are known for diversity. Millennials are far more likely to be second generation immigrants, and will be known for assimilation.

  The proportion of  women college students  has risen from…34% in the early 1950s, and44% in the late 1960s, to58% now.: 

The proportion of women college students has risen from… 34% in the early 1950s, and 44% in the late 1960s, to 58% now.

MILLENNIALS & SCHOOL VIOLENCE: 

MILLENNIALS & SCHOOL VIOLENCE

MILLENNIALS, BEER, & RELIGION: 

MILLENNIALS, BEER, & RELIGION

Millennialsin K-12 Schools : 

Millennials in K-12 Schools

Reading now includes:: 

Reading now includes: Basic Software Literacy Emails & Web Sites Multi-tasking Internet Research (Googling) Contemporary Culture

Writing now includes:: 

Writing now includes: Word Processing Desktop Publishing Power Point Audio & Video Streaming Telecommunications Emailing

Work now includes:: 

Work now includes: Multi-Tasking Filtering of Information “Just-in-Time” Acceleration Interactivity

 American students match up well against foreign students in some tests, less well in others.But no students anywhere in the world can match American teens for the breadth and quality of their extracurriculars. : 

American students match up well against foreign students in some tests, less well in others. But no students anywhere in the world can match American teens for the breadth and quality of their extracurriculars.

Slide87: 

The Cappies

Millennial Problem Areas: 

Millennial Problem Areas Male High School Dropout Rate Remedial Tech Needs Lack of Creativity Weak Life Skills Obesity Stress

Student loans:: 

Student loans: G.I.s: None Silent: Very rare Boomers: Small, rising Gen X: Rising sharply Millennials: Very large

The Era ofthe Gen-X Parent : 

The Era of the Gen-X Parent

Generations and K-12 Schools:(2007): 

Generations and K-12 Schools: (2007)

Generations and K-12 Schools:(2017): 

Generations and K-12 Schools: (2017)

Where Boomers have been “Helicopter Parents,” Gen Xers are Stealth Fighter Parents. : 

Where Boomers have been “Helicopter Parents,” Gen Xers are Stealth Fighter Parents.

www.williamstrauss.com: 

www.williamstrauss.com

The Millennial Generation: Implications for K-12 School Leadersby William StraussNew York State Council of SuperintendentsOctober 1, 2007: 

The Millennial Generation: Implications for K-12 School Leaders by William Strauss New York State Council of Superintendents October 1, 2007 www.williamstrauss.com

Leadership: 

Leadership Don’t let NCLB pull you down. Raise the bar for everyone. Encourage creativity. Understand the world students will enter. Remember: It’s a new century.

Management: 

Management Help older teachers “reinvent.” Unleash Gen-X teachers. Energize new Millennial hires. Enlist those helicopter parents. Help generations build mutual respect.

Teaching: 

Teaching Do team projects. Use interactive multimedia. Provide constant feedback. Use data to serve each child. Grade the way the workplace does.

Curriculum: 

Curriculum Update math, science, & technology. Teach 21st Century communications. Retarget the social sciences. Strengthen life skills. Give priority to extracurriculars.

Discipline: 

Discipline Set high standards & be exemplars. Be a bastion of total safety. Redefine—and target—cheating. Rely on positive peer pressure. Create a boy-suitable environment.

Student Services: 

Student Services Address eating and fitness issues. Target teen driving. Find, and help, the loners. Ease time, stress, and grade anxieties. Offer sensible advice to seniors.

Funding: 

Funding Embrace accountability. Be central to community life. Reach out to non-parents (& elders). Be an advocate for your product. Praise students, don’t criticize them.

Media: 

Media Be transparent. Put assessments into context. Create media opportunities. Share the good stories. Enlist students.

Legacy: 

Legacy Develop civic purpose. Encourage service learning. Respect the new youth agenda. Empower young people. Make people proud of them.

Make the Case:Kids are smarter.Parents are doing better.Schools are improving.Leaders are maturing. : 

Make the Case: Kids are smarter. Parents are doing better. Schools are improving. Leaders are maturing.

www.williamstrauss.com: 

www.williamstrauss.com