Many schools assign summer reading for students, to keep them engaged during the time out of the classroom. In that spirit, I’m using my time this summer to try to catch up on some pleasure reading myself, finishing some books on football and baseball thus far. Recently, I attended an event with Alabama Football Head Coach Nick Saban as the keynote speaker, and when he began speaking about trying to connect with today’s youth, it really caught my attention.
Coach Saban recommended a book called “Generation iY: Our Last Chance to Save Their Future” by Dr. Tim Elmore. I ordered the book that night, and when it arrived, I began reading through it to find some startling ideas. Being from the fringe of Generation iY (defined by Elmore as people born between 1984-2002) I can see some parts of what was described in my life, although it has became exasperated in later years. The book focuses on how society has sheltered so many young people from failing, whether it be parents never disciplining their children or instructors passing a student with regards to the students feelings. We as instructors must realize that we cannot let mediocrity become a norm for our students. We must find a way to reward students for striving for excellence.
In Hanceville, there are so many people who settle for the norm. Dropping out of school is not unusual. Not continuing your education is status quo. We must strive to produce a student environment that challenges students to always strive beyond the ordinary to reach greater heights. Students must be reminded that, while life is most assuredly not easy, fortune favors the bold, and luck is where opportunity meets preparation. If we challenge our students with this, we can turn Generation iY into a successful generation of well informed, well equipped leaders.
What’s on your summer reading list?
