What's Wrong with Today's Kids?

Not too long ago when discussing chronological and spatial paragraph organization with my students, I assigned them a homework assignment in which they were to describe their bedrooms using spatial organization and describe their morning routines using chronological organization. Seems like a simple assignment, right? Well, this simple assignment revealed the answer to one of America's most terrifying questions: What's wrong with today's kids?

Here's the answer:

Out of the 17 paragraphs turned in that described bedrooms, 14 of those paragraphs described bedrooms which had televisions in them. About seven of those also had some sort of gaming system. One student described his entertainment system in his bedroom in great detail but neglected to mention that he had a bed. A bed in a bedroom--what a novel concept.

Of the 14 students who said their bedrooms had TVs in them, 10 of them mentioned that they watch TV as part of their morning routine.

If the paragraphs about the morning routines are accurate:

• None of the students read their Bibles in the morning.
• Seven of them don't brush their teeth in the morning.
• Eight of them don't eat breakfast.
• But TEN of them watch TV. . . .

America, we have a problem. . . .