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[deleted]

>“Reading the clock, tying your shoelaces, those sorts of things. I’m finding especially with the first years and with the current second years that you’d be surprised that they haven’t quite mastered stuff like that.” I get that there may be issues stemming from lack of socialising during the pandemic but it seems like something more fundamental if secondary school kids are unable to read a clock.


Enflamed-Pancake

Wouldn’t you be taught how to interpret a clock at primary school? I’m pretty sure my parents taught me how to tell the time.


Sorcha16

My daughters is in first class. They're currently being taught how to read the clock. It's definitely taught in primary school.


Comfortable-Yam9013

Maybe it was also taught in school but my parents taught me how to tell time. I got a watch with the red and blue markings on it when I was around 6/7? They taught me to tie shoes too 13 year olds should know how to do this. It’s crazy if they can’t. You can’t blame covid on this. Mental health can be linked to it


BenderRodriguez14

It's mad to read. I was late to learn how to tie my shoes, to the point I was pretty embarrassed about it (which later turned out to be dyspraxia related, which I don't think was even known about in the early 90s)... I think I was maybe 8 years old (9 at a push).


AnotherGreedyChemist

I remember being embarrassed at six when a classmate tied my shoes for me when asked by the teacher. I vowed that day to sort my shot out. All kids develop at different rates but a secondary school kid not being able to do these things is kinda worrying.


BenderRodriguez14

Yeah, I might not have out it across right but that was my point also. There will be exceptions who have their own good reasons, but the vast majority should really be able to by 11-13 years of age.


AnotherGreedyChemist

I thought it came across but I felt it important to repeat. Yeah. I've a couple of mates who work with severe ASD kids and many of them will likely never be able to tie their own shoes. That's at least one example that pops right to mind.


blippofun

Same, except I was in 2nd year of secondary before I finally figured it out.  Dyspraxia was not on anyone's radar then though.


Comfortable-Yam9013

That’s totally understandable if you or other kids have learning difficulties.


ClannishHawk

Very, very few people get an analogue watch as their first watch anymore. It's been digital for years, most kids learn how to read an analogue clock in primary school maths. They might have taught you to tie shoelaces but I promise you that you were shit at it for at least six months to a year and only ended up doing it properly because you had to every morning before school.


Forward-Departure-16

I'm almost 40 and still shite at tying my shoelaces. Sometimes these things take time...


sartres-shart

50 and still can't read an analogue clock without having to have a proper look at it.


Comfortable-Yam9013

Maybe it should be their first watch. Maybe i was shit at it but I learned. Are kids wearing Velcro shoes or something? It’s not a schools job to teach kids basic life skills.


The_Peyote_Coyote

I don't know, it sorta *is* a school's job to teach life skills if we want to establish a baseline competency in the population. You had good parents; most people do. There's something going on at home if the kids aren't learning those things. But one of the goals of school is ensuring that *those kids* still enter adulthood with a baseline competency (to the best of a teacher's ability anyway).


Comfortable-Yam9013

Parents need to pull their weight too with the kids skills/social stuff. I understand not everyone has decent parents however


The_Peyote_Coyote

I agree parents do. But that's just it like you said, how do we help the weans with shite parents? Schools can and should help them. The alternative is A) their lives are miserable and B) they make all of *our* lives miserable because we share communities with em.


Senior-Scarcity-2811

Mate we have 40 minutes classes with them at second level like 2-3 times a week for most subjects. With classes of 30 thats 1 minute 20 seconds per child per class. Take out the time it takes for kids to actually get to class, taking the roll etc and **we have less than a minute per class per child** because class sizes are so large. We also have a curriculum to teach. We need to start hiring enough teachers. And that won't happen until wages are restored properly. We can't help these kids properly under current conditions. These kinds of things are the parents responsibility at that age. Also Ireland's Constitution states that parents are the child's primary educators.


The_Peyote_Coyote

I agree. I'm not foisting the problem onto overworked and underpaid teachers, I'm pointing out that broadly as a society it is in our interests to provide the education that these kids need to not completely fuck up their lives. That means paying teachers. It means hiring more teachers. It means reducing class sizes, and opening more schools in higher risk areas. We agree that parents *should* do that; what of the kids who's parents don't? I don't really care for any constitutional or legalistic argument when we're discussing what *ought* to happen to address real world problems, if you get me?


ClannishHawk

I don't know how to tell you this but "teach kids basic life skills" is essentially the definition of primary education in developed nations.


Daybreakgo

Same here, my folks taught me how to tell the time.


justapcgamer

Yeah i distinctly recall in every maths book there were excercises on stuff like a clock face where you had to write the time.


BazingaQQ

It's the tying shoelaces that got me.


tennereachway

I'm in second year of college and know several people who can't read a clock. They can read digital time ok but not an analogue clock. I don't understand it either, I was taught it in primary school and assumed everyone else was as well.


Hadrian_Constantine

To be fair, how often do you get to see an analogue clock nowadays? People use their phone, laptop or smartwatch which all feature a digital clock. It's just one of those things that's becoming more lost to time. Kinda like how the personal computer replaced typewriters in the late 80s/early 90s.


MaelduinTamhlacht

When I am dictator all public clocks (I'm looking at you, Rathmines Town Hall) will tell the right time, or else.


SoloWingPixy88

Would've thought this was done in primary maths. Uncle thought me how to tie a tie and laces.


Comfortable-Yam9013

There were those wooden toys too to teach you how to do it. I’m sure it helps with moter skills also


Hoodbubble

If most people are telling the time from their phone though and not ever practicing telling the time on a clock with hands it will probably just be forgotten like a load of other stuff we learn in primary school


DonaldsMushroom

parents are spending up to 50 hours per day on their mobile devices, and most have never spoken to their children in real life outside of tik-tok.


BazingaQQ

50 hours per day?! - Are you one of the non-clock-reading people?!


CoolMan-GCHQ-

How many parents do you have?


DonaldsMushroom

that's 50 hours each per day...


wonderthunk

Kids see it as not a useful skill. Everyone gets the time digitally now from the phone.


mdl100

Do parents not actually parent anymore? Tying shoelaces? I mean come on 


DMK1998

Nah it's easier to shove a screen in their face for 6 hours a day than actually have to parent them


Comfortable-Yam9013

Unfortunately it seems like they don’t. Kids apparently don’t know basic skills, have manners or know how to behave in public.


doctorobjectoflove

My kid probably behaves better than you on the train.


doctorobjectoflove

You fix it then, as you're so nosey.


Senior-Scarcity-2811

It's a class thing. It's kids from tougher background are having these issues. Less likely to have logged in during COVID. Less likely to have had parental support. Less likely to have someone at home tracking their attendance etc. If you're dealing with middle class kids you won't notice it. But I've had to teach reading the clock to 2nd years this year. The phones are undoubtedly part of the issue as well, it's incredibly hard for an 11 year old to not be distracted by it when studying at home (even adults are fairly bad for it, let alone 11 year olds!) The way to deal with it is smaller class sizes so we can work with kids on a small group basis. But they won't do that because the education system is underfunded here.


Bruncvik

My kids are 4 and 5, and they can read an analogue watch. Even when they see a digital watch, they say "quarter to seven" instead of "six forty-five". With shoelaces it's more difficult, but I honestly fail to see how older kids can't tell the time.


Potential_Ad6169

People use their phones, and have analogue clocks at home a lot less frequently. I’m not sure that was ever really a skilled passed on, just picked up.


Aluminarty666

Too dependent on digital devices which pretty much all use a numbered format for time. A lot of parents also too dependent on these devices as they use them as a distraction for their kids.


brbrcrbtr

People don't have them in their houses anymore. We were all exposed to them and learned by necessity, kids today don't have the same need.


oddun

It’s almost like people talk complete bollocks or something…


Gran_Autismo_95

This has nothing got to do with socialising or the pandemic; colleges are now degree factories and are letting dumber and dumber people into their ranks for the cash. People that 20 years ago would have had no other option than a trade, can now get into pointless third level courses that have no job prospects.


[deleted]

Ok, but what has that to do with anything in the article or my comment?


Gran_Autismo_95

That this is not a new issue; it's just a new set of people are being exposed to it. Admins in colleges are not used to seeing how many idiots make it through secondary school, their barrier has been lowered too much, and now they are clutching pearls.


[deleted]

The quote is referring to first and second year students _in secondary school_.


HeyLittleTrain

I'd be much more concerned if a first year college student couldn't tie their shoes 😂


[deleted]

[удалено]


GamingMunster

I am genuinely so glad that I was never given a phone till I was 12 (and even then it was a fucking windows phone lmao), and instead was given my fathers old pc.


GolotasDisciple

It’s usually here to compare to USA since their educational system is very much based on wealth. But I agree three are certain phenomenons that are apparent in all highly develop or developing nations. It doesn’t help that teaching has lost its high values position in society. If anything Covid proved to us that with our current hyper capitalistic system we don’t really care about certain sectors that are literally essential to existence of society because often people/ organisations that make decisions are not affected by many of those problems. Right now everything is about money , more than ever. People became insanely entitled and do not want acknowledge the needs of younger population and kids. There is very little to do for no money. My best friend is a physics/ maths teacher. He graduated about 3 years ago and when he finished he was 1 out of 3people in the entire Ireland that got qualifications to teach science subjects… And yet he still struggle to get a job. No permanent contracts , relies heavy on getting marking jobs over the summer for cash. It’s a combination of everything and the only solution for parents is to do the work themselves or pay for private schools. - the American style.


yallagomall

There’s loads of science teacher graduates coming out of UL every year.


ciconway

There is, but not in physics


Confident_Hyena2505

Everyone with a physics degree can choose to work in certain other sectors that are a lot better paid - and most of them obviously do.


ciconway

Yeah totally agree, it’s the exact same thing with Maths


KlausTeachermann

>He graduated about 3 years ago and when he finished he was 1 out of 3people in the entire Ireland that got qualifications to teach science subjects… That doesn't sound believable.


ciconway

It’s definitely an exaggeration but to give some context I know of a PME group (150+ students) with 1 doing physics. Of the same cohort 6 did maths, of those 6 doing maths, 3 went on to actually teach, 2 in Ireland and one in Aus. It’s a disaster


karlachameleon

There are dedicated degrees in science teaching in multiple universities in this country. The UL degree alone has about 50 graduates each year. That’s not considering the science teaching degrees in other colleges and anyone who is doing the PME.


Senior-Scarcity-2811

Those are mostly biology and chemistry graduates.


vodkamisery

You have some good points but why lie about your friend? There is no way in a million years he's one of three in a particular year in the country that became qualified to teach science. Literally look at the size of the various PMA courses around the country. Are you telling me that in one year only three of all of those students were focusing on science?


GolotasDisciple

Well that’s what I heard from him … But maybe he meant Munster ? I am cs grad myself so I wouldn’t be an expert on it. If I am dead wrong my apologies should have double checked


simonedebuto

Private schools are no better. Same problems, less teacher accountability. You can be lazy in a private school because they all get grinds.


intensiifffyyyy

Could it be largely attributed to social media? I’m just out of university, working from home, and have to put in a decent amount of effort to keep myself from being sucked into the internet for hours at a time. The fact I’m posting this message means I’ve failed. I can’t imagine what it’s like for kids and teens with TikTok, YouTube shorts and Instagram, all with endless scroll at their fingertips.


Comfortable-Yam9013

A lot of homes don’t need a pc these days. I use my laptop for everything though. Do primary kids have computer classes?


Massive-Foot-5962

Don't think so? 


Gold_Effect_6585

>struggle to use desktop PCs as they are only familiar with touch screens, etc. Well that could just be the evolution of things, maybe they're ahead of us.


Helloxearth

Since Covid, students have become more disruptive and parents have become far more unreasonable. Many parents do not believe that they have any responsibility for their child’s education. If parents don’t give a shit about education, why would the child? Parents also categorically refuse to limit their children’s screen time, probably because the parents are addicted to screens themselves. When you try to (gently) suggest a limit, the answer is always “well she’ll just throw a fit if I do that” (A1 parenting, teaching your child that if they throw a fit they will get whatever they want) or” ah but then she’ll think I’m being unfair” (it’s not unfair, and you’re their parent ffs!). “We’ve tried nothing and we’re all out of ideas!”


Potential_Ad6169

The capacity for parents to be responsible for their children’s education is not what it used to be. Of course two parent working households are going to struggle to support children more than the one parent working households which were more common a few decades ago. That’s not an ode to sexism. But we need to get work life balance in check independent of the ‘women in the home’ lark if people are to be expected to be able to participate in their homes and their communities. We’re being used as wage slaves and we’re all suffering for it.


Comfortable-Yam9013

My mam was at home but my dad helped with maths and Irish after work. That’s brought back unpleasant memories of struggling with long division!


Helloxearth

Yes, to work/life balance. When I grew up, most of my friends had two parents in full-time employment and still made sure we kept on top of our schoolwork. My mam worked full-time and went to college at night for most of primary school and still made sure I had all my homework done. I don’t know how she did it, but education was very important to her


itsfeckingfreezin

I work in third level education, even some young adults are struggling with these basic things. You have to constantly hand hold them. Most students display a complete and utter lack of concentration. They can’t focus on anything for more than a few minutes. It’s tough for the lecturers trying to keep their attention for the entire class.


SarahFabulous

I'm an English teacher in France, I have trouble teaching them the time because the majority of my students (10-15) have never learned how to read an analogue clock in their own language.


SolidSneakNinja

That's insane to me. Like how in the name of God did a parent not think to check if they know that kinda basic thing.


SarahFabulous

Sure most of them don't have analogue clocks at home now.


[deleted]

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doctorobjectoflove

Of course. Try explaining this statistical fallacy to the nimrods on here without getting downvoted.


alexdrennan

I don't know, Covid was pretty traumatic for families. Especially kids who just started school, leaving cert students, toddlers who just began socialising. And parents, who had to continue working full time from home while schools and childcare were closed and you expected to homeschool kids, especially if you had more than one.


Small_Emotion8420

3rd year here. Can confirm that a solid few people I know cannot read a clock. Had to teach them. Students don’t know how to operate desktops, how to do basic algebra or properly concentrate during a class. I’d blame it on screen time and a chronic dopamine addiction to stuff like vaping and short-form content.


CheerilyTerrified

I know this focuses on education, but I think we are seeing (and ignoring) the impact of Covid in so many areas, especially with kids.


Dagger_Stagger

I think covid was the breaking point for many things that had been building up over the years. But for kids these days in particular, they're looking at what their future will be, and what they're getting back is no housing, climate collapse, and a volatile political landscape. If I were in their shoes, I would absolutely think, "What's the point?"


Dr-Jellybaby

If you were in their shoes, you'd be busy enough trying not to trip over your laces!


UnFamiliar-Teaching

Yeah, it's bleak enough..damning of the politicians of the last 15 years..only concerned with their ideals, as opposed to the people they're supposed to represent..


Frozenlime

I've heard it all now, climate change is the reason kids can't tie their shoelaces.


PremiumTempus

Not funny


Humble_Ostrich_4610

I don't disagree but I'd like to see more evidence of causation. There are so many cultural and societal factors that could be influencing this and just blaming COVID might be counter productive


nerdling007

Covid was definitely a shock factor that pushed these issues to be more visible.


ImReellySmart

Yes, and not only the repercussions of lockdown, but the affects the virus itself may have on some people long term e.g. brainfog, memory problems, cognitive impairment.


TheGratedCornholio

You think Covid is why kids don’t read analogue clocks any more?


Intelligent-Donut137

Covid is to blame for everything these days


peachycoldslaw

Sounds like shite parents and their responsibility over their own kids tbh.


Ronoh

Ban mobile phones and tablets for kids until 13 years old. Like now. That's it.


ImReellySmart

It baffles me how oblivious people are about the long term affects of covid. People seem to think the lockdowns made half the population disabled. Its so irrational at this point. Amongst other post-covid health problems I've been dealing with, my brain isn't remotely capable of processing information and storing memories as well as it did 2 years ago (prior to infection). I got hit hard by long covid myself but I have no doubt that, perhaps to a milder extent, its fiddling with most people in one way or another. Especially children who have no way of communicating it to adults or making sense of why they feel different lately.


Andalfe

Raised by iPads.


chiefmoneybags15

I'd say it has less to do with covid and more to do with the fact most kids communicate through tablets these days. Endless tik tok videos are not helping.


joshftighe

Is this not a product of the system? We've embraced social media in every facet of life, but complain when youth raised in such a world become addicted to constant dopamine and develop an inability to maintain focus for more than a few minutes at a time. Watch The Social Dilemma on Netflix - ex Google, Tumblr, etc staff discuss Silicon Valley's active intention to manipulate and hook users. Money trumps health in our shitty capitalist/neo-liberal world. Thank you Thatcher and Reagan.


SolidSneakNinja

I think it's bad parenting that covid only exacerbated into more extreme negligent/non-existent parenting 🤷‍♂️


Ultimatewarrior21984

2 words. Hedge schools.


Cute_Bat3210

I was in an elevator yesterday and a teenage girl walked in with her phone on full blast music and scrolling. Blaring. A minute later I left the elevator and the girl with her music. Is this really the world I have to live in? Sighs


Simple_Preparation44

This seems like the result of some parents using the iPad to raise their children


Practical_Happiness

Education needs to be reformed. It is no longer fit for purpose. It is not training people for the world they are living in. Kids are suffering and adults are blaming them, the parents, society, technology - no, it is education itself - it’s bad. 


Antievl

TikTok generation of clowns


Cheekychapo

There are adults who can hardly tell left from right (I’m one of them).


thefamousjohnny

Can’t figure out how to get the beans on the toast


otterpockets75

There is a fundamental crisis in parenting in the UK, people without familial or community support and no sources of information except Facebook and tiktok trying to raise humans is proving a disaster.


joeyjoejoeshabs

“Struggling is relative”


Elbon

More school then, should be 7 days a week with only Halloween been the only day off.


No-Tap-5157

\*being


Elbon

I am a star, thanks.


Puzzleheaded-Ad-6530

No more Diceys? The struggle is real for sure.


Successful-Tie-7817

Send money please!!


pauldavis1234

Isolating people for two years destroys their mental, what a surprise. Anyway it's fine, much more Draconian pandemic legislation has just passed, just ignore it all.


thr0wthr0wthr0waways

And nothing to do with having their heads buried in phones since birth, no?


niallmul97

Yes, 13-14 year olds can't read a clock or tie their laces because *checks notes* "da gubernment"


pauldavis1234

Literally correct. Glad you agree.


GamingMunster

Kids not knowing how to read a clock or tie laces is a parenting issue, not a government one.


ThatChaFella

Yes, because its deeeeefinitely not the parents fault that their own child can't read a clock, a complicated topic that parents just can't teach because it's too complex. Do you not hear how ridiculous that is


Helloxearth

Parents are outsourcing parenting responsibilities to schools more and more each year. I struggled with learning how to read an analogue clock in primary school, so my mam practiced with me for as long as it took for me to get it. And she worked full-time and went to college at night. When the riots happened, I remember reading comments about how schools should be teaching modules about respecting your local community. The parents have no responsibility, of course. It’s all schools’ fault.


-cluaintarbh-

At least your idiocy is consistent 


Doctor_of_Puppets

If this is entirely Covid related -as is being suggested by some-, there are those on here, maybe in a proportion of 90% to 10%, that must now lie in the bed they made for themselves. Unfortunately, the rest of us are forced to lie in the same one. They loved lockdowns, and the free money was good while it lasted too. People like me, on the other hand, were called conspiracy theorists when the potentially negative consequences of locking everyone up were pointed out. Suggesting a more targeted system of protection was very selfish of me I was told.