Being Young Today

The perspective of an almost young MP

Jacinda Ardern, Labour MP

“In my beginning is my end”

• Experiences as a student• Experiences as a student leader• Experiences as a politician

The beginning for Gen Y

• Definition?• Characteristics

– E generation– Communicators– Resilient– Extended ‘adult-escence’– Beginning is in their now

The E Generation• “Voracious consumers of electronic

media”• 1/3 of their lives are spent online• 1/3 website primary source news• 50% read blogs

The Communicators • 70% have Facebook

accounts• Almost all owned

computers and cell phone

• In touch with parents frequently

• 50% wanted to spend more time with their families

Resilient

• Assumptions about Gen Y

• Social Researcher Hugh Mackey calls Gen Y “nimble, flexible and adaptable”

“Adult-escense”

• 82% rank recession an issue for most• “High tolerance of debt”• Perspective of baby boomer

Their beginning is their now

• Youth Justice• Characteristics

What does this mean for Education?

• Skills• Opportunities• Discipline

(Disclaimer)

Skills for Gen Y

• “Getting information today is like drinking from a fire hydrant”

• Learning to be critical• Ghandi experience (knowledge is

contested)• Mandela experience

(learning/understanding perspective)

Opportunities for Gen Y

• Leadership opportunities (democratisation via the internet)

• Giving young people a voice– Skate park syndrome– Two stars and a wish model

• “Autonomy leads to dignity”

Discipline

• Don’t have all answers• Schools as Community Halls• Giving back tools

“In our beginning is our endIn our end is our beginning”

- T.S Eliot

• Are we reflecting the changing world in our education system?

• Does more autonomy lead to more dignity and success or chaos?

• How do we balance teaching young people to be critical without being

cynical?

Challenge Questions