Gen Alpha Is Making Headlines
Generation Alpha are those born between 2010 and 2024, so currently, they are anywhere between in-utero and 14 years old.
Source: @teresakayenewman/TikTok
Music teacher Teresa Kaye Newman recently posted a TikTok video saying that she is “sounding the alarm” on this next generation of kids.
Teresa Defends Her Position with Support
Teresa’s six-minute video explains to her followers not only that kids within Gen Alpha are a real concern, but also what she believes is the reason why they’re so problematic.
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However, Teresa believes that her age, 36, may make some people discredit her opinion. So before arguing her points, she first shows several younger teachers TikTok clips with their take on Gen Alpha’s issues.
'Confused and Frightened by the Behavior of Gen Alpha'
The first clip shows TikToker @attemptedsoc showing a folder of videos of crying teachers, explaining that they are all “confused and frightened by the behavior of Gen Alpha.”
Source: @teresakayenewman/TikTok
She reveals that teachers say, “Gen Alpha is defiant, aggressive, disrespectful, and rude.”
'You’re Not My Mom'
Another teacher, @saaaaaaii1, tells her followers in a video that Gen Alpha “doesn’t respect any authority,” and that when asked to follow instructions, they say, “I’m not doing that, you don’t get to tell me what to do, you’re not my mom.”
Source: @teresakayenewman/TikTok
In her video she has written in all capital letters, “Time for change,” in the hopes that people see that these children are a real problem.
'We Are Doomed'
Middle school teacher, @iamjaygohram, is only 22 years old himself, and he says in his clip that “we are doomed. These kids do not care.”
Source: @teresakayenewman/TikTok
He even goes on to say something extremely concerning, which is that, in his opinion, “All they wanna do all day long is get high.”
Gen Alpha Kids Are 'Awful'
And finally, teacher @alannadinh asks Millennial parents, “Why are your kids so awful? And more importantly, why do you think it’s so funny?”
Source: @teresakayenewman/TikTok
She goes on to say, in quite a frustrated tone, “Your kids cannot read, they cannot write, they’re ill-mannered.”
Teresa Takes Back the Mic
Teresa then comes back on the screen and explains that while she has been trying to “sound the alarm about Gen Alpha students,” no one has listened because they believe she’s simply too old to understand children today.
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But now that so many Gen Z teachers are expressing the exact same opinion, she is hoping that people, specifically parents, will finally pay attention.
Teachers Like Teresa Feel Incredibly Strongly About the Gen Alpha Problem
Teresa’s strong opinion on the Gen Alpha issue can be seen in many of her videos, but she is certainly not alone, as is clear from her video showing the many other educators who agree.
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They are all saying the same thing, which is that children are simply “missing the mark” on discipline, socialization, and education. And many educators believe that the parents are to blame.
A Problem That Needs to Be Addressed by Parents
The problem, in Teresa’s and many other teachers’ eyes, is that these kids have both behavioral and literacy issues. But more importantly, change absolutely needs to happen in the home to address these issues.
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Teresa says while there are plenty of avenues for blame, such as the economic climate, smartphones, or the pandemic, it really doesn’t matter why it happened. It matters what parents can do now to change this very real problem.
The World’s Response to Teresa’s Concerns About Gen Alpha
The majority of people who have responded to Teresa’s video agree with her and the other educators’ sentiments, saying that parents need to step up to the plate and make changes in the home.
Source: @teresakayenewman/TikTok
One TikToker wrote, “Too many parents are expecting schools to raise their kids for them.” Others claimed that the problems lie in the overuse of smartphones or “overcorrection” in regard to creating strong boundaries and rules for children.
There May Be a Shortage of Teachers in the Near Future
Sadly, it may take some time for parents to realize that there is even a problem with their children, let alone make the necessary adjustments to truly ignite change.
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And before that happens, teachers, both young and old, may start abandoning their profession for another with less stress because of the issues within Generation Alpha.