Prof
Are you feeling entitled?
I agree with your general sentiment. At 18 we (society) have failed them if we haven't taught them to be a little cynical and question everything, especially in this technological age when scamming is ever present. I never had a problem talking to my kids and them listening and questioning what I said (this isn't a criticism of you at all). All 3 went to university, one got a good degree that benefitted him, one got a language degree which was waste of time but she used the "Bachelor's" to get what she wanted in the end and my youngest did 1 year of Law, decided it wasn't "him" left, got a job and is now Chief of Police.
I think our generation is very much at fault though. Very few of our parent's generation went to university (many started full time work at 14) and they saw university as a place for the upper class and aspirational, so they pushed our generation to go. I'm one of 4 children, the oldest and youngest did not go to university, the oldest, my brother has worked hard every day of his life and he continues to despite being in his 70's. He will do anything and never saw a job as menial or below him. My younger sister worked, then got MS and has lived on benefits for a long time. My older sister got a place at Imperial and dropped out because of a "boyfriend" who became her husband, who became her ex. She has worked every day of her life (apart from having 2 kids) and earned a good salary (wasted it imo, but earned it). And then there is me, left school with great grades but bored, worked, went back to uni, started my own company, made money, stopped, moved to France, worked in Education for a pittance because I believe in it, got my masters to improve myself in my speciality, I'll retire at 67 (if I live that long).
Our generation has spoilt our children, we haven't made them understand the importance of work nor the true value of money. Our children think they have a right to expensive goods, cars and houses because they saw that we had them and we bought them those things (where we could) They are entitled and we haven't disabused our princes and princesses of this notion. They lack respect for people and for goods. we haven't made them understand and respect their freedom and the luck/chance they have to live in a country with so many freedoms. The Great war and WW2 are simply stories from the past to them, maybe even worse than that as they play war games on their consoles or watch hollywood movies where killing is cheap, glorified the cost to humanity is ignored. They lack respect for freedoms and choice and the possibility (not right) to vote.