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Opinion

Technology desensitizing youth

Christian Palmer
Opinion Columnist 

Everyone knows technology evolves at the speed of teenage gossip, so a few recent studies have been trying to observe its effects on our favorite demographic. Of course, summertime is the perfect time to catch them in their natural habitats.

What’s an American kid to do when, every day, scientific breakthroughs are being made: chocolate that doesn’t melt, bacteria with the so-called "Midas Touch" and even treatments for terrible diseases? Naturally, they mimic what they see ­ adults everywhere selling their souls for the newest, coolest gadgets. Monkey see, monkey do. As a result, the adults of tomorrow spend hours listening to iPods and text-messaging while chatting online and talking on mobile phones.

Social scientists and perceptive adults everywhere are starting to take notice, observing that this world of technology has made youths hostile and disrespectful, stripped them of social mores and caused a wave of rampant informality, with side effects including using relaxed language and being ignorant, or indifferent, to online threats as they divulge private information to anyone willing to listen. 

This generation is more connected than ever, but is blissfully unaware and unconcerned with parents, teachers and other authority figures.

Despite the scary new slang and oblivious demeanor, this generation does seem to show interest in something that may seem like a total throwback ­ such is the way of fads ­ but it’s not what you may think. 

This week’s Newsweek features a story about an unusual summer camp in Minnesota with a language program that immerses children in Chinese activities, such as martial arts and regional culinary technique. 

Chinese is but one of 13 languages and has an enrollment of more than 350 students, willing and able to explore a new culture without ever leaving the country. 

Though the institution was founded in the 1960s, the 9/11 attacks prompted general acknowledgement from educators and linguistics experts that American children are being put at a disadvantage because of reduced interest, or funding, in public schools’ language programs. 

"A lot of school administrators and principles are feeling under such pressure to improve their test scores in reading, English and math that they are dropping foreign language instruction," Nancy Rhodes, director of foreign language education at the Center for Applied Linguistics, said in the article. 

These administrators are only thinking in the short term. They don’t seem to realize that children, by learning a foreign language, will acquire more skills than just understanding a different language. 

I imagine any good language student can tell you that, upon understanding said new language, they can grasp grammar and vocabulary with new clarity, are better equipped to comprehend when reading are more cultivated in the long run, and are more motivated and prepared to learn new things in general.

It’s not like it would be a bad thing if tomorrow’s leaders understood the world they will probably be struggling to hold power in when their time comes.

Palmer, an opinion columnist for The Daily Cougar, 
may be reached at pogsandjello@gmail.com.