being young today the perspective of an almost young mp jacinda ardern, labour mp

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