The Lost Age

[pips1]

This may have been said before, I don't know, but more and more I wish everyone could go back to the way we were brought up in the 50s/60s. Most people (there are always exceptions!) who were born in this time that I know are capable, responsible adults who now, through no fault of ours, are now coping with elderly parents who are living longer, and adult children who are living at home longer. We are in the 'sandwich years'. We know how to cook, clean, garden, sew, manage money and live a life without looking at our phones every 2 minutes. Not long ago there was a series on TV where present day youngsters went back to school as it was back then, they all found it much harder but all agreed at the end that they had learnt so much. What are your views?

[Hopkirk]

Every generation has its good uns and bad uns.

Although I grew up in the sixties, I can't agree that we are any better than others. We also had it too easy in some ways - no tuition fees at universities for instance.

[jackthehat]

I think the rose-coloured spectacles they hand out now look better with their designer-frames.

[Ric.ror]

'no tuition fees at universities for instance'
And yet far fewer of us went to Uni back then.
I agree there are good and bad though - I remember sitting on a bus last winter thinking in 20 years time people will laugh at the idea of going to work on a freezing cold bus - and yet 20 years before we had to walk in the snow
Times change sometimes for the better sometimes for the worse - one things for sure though - we cannot stop it

[Sqad]

LOL...LOL...I was sitting back just wondering when "the rose colored spectacle" replies would come.............

[anneasquith]

children in the 50/60s. had a much more uncomplicated life than todays children/teenagers,

[tiggerblue10]

You can't stop the world evolving. In 20 years time we'll probably be thinking the iPod was archaic.

[Old_Geezer]

I think my parent's generation had it harder than mine, and the present one hardly knows it's born. Case already mentioned, when I was a youth higher education was available for those who had the ability to benefit fro it and to benefit the country by investing years learning more. Now-a-days it is just a right for nearly all and a target for the government to boast of. Of course that caused financial problems caused by the fools who changed the system. IMO most of the things presently compained of represent a better situation than was the case for previous generations. It is the expectations that have change in the main.

[ummmm]

I can cook, clean, garden, sew, manage money and manage to not look at my phone every 2 minutes.

The only thing on that list which isn't a common occurrence is sewing. Why spend time darning socks when you can buy 5 pairs for £2.50 in the supermarket.

This is week 2 of the summer holidays and so far my kids have not spent one day at home.

[pips1]

I agree change is necessary and inevitable, I don't mean that, I just feel we are not taught the basics any more. Both of my children are adults now and have always worked, they just don't have many practical skills and that is not for the want of me trying to teach them. They just look at things to be thrown away not repaired, oh goodness I don't know what I'm trying to say!!!

[ChuckFickens]

"I just feel we are not taught the basics any more"

Have you looked at the question directly below this one? which is from somebody who must be in their 40's at least from looking at previous questions.

[pips1]

ha I see your point Chuck - maths eh? that's something else!!

[AB Editor]

I remember when we were taught proper maths, it's Roman numerals or nothing for me.

[tonyav]

Did they let you use an abacus, Ed ?

[marval]

I hated maths, I could never get my quill to write the numbers properly.

[tonyav]

A quill marval, you were lucky it was a piece of chalk and a slate for me.

[marval]

Oh no, it was a quill and inkwell for me.

[tonyav]

Ok ok marval no need to show off, just because you went to a posh school lol.

[murraymints]

I had a slate and chalk at primary...was rebuilt but still remember the chak box !

[Hopkirk]

What do the teachers hurl at the pupils, now that they don't have blackboard rubbers?

[nungate]

Since schools weren't teaching the "basics" I taught my daughter to sew, cook and bake (I'd have done the same if we'd had a son) Now she's a fine cook and bakes beautifully! I can even let her loose on the garden, since moving to this house a couple of years back she's taken it upon herself to grow tomatoes (Grandma's influence there though) I think it's down to we
parents to educate our children in these basics of life, and to prepare them for the wider world and not simply leave everything to schools.