I read a Jan. 3 response to a Dec. 28 letter written by a student lamenting the degradation of decorum in the classroom. The response noted that "they sit where they want, use personal screens when they want, talk back and argue, and disrupt classes constantly."
I did a double-take, because I thought the reader was describing adults, although it's primarily outside of the school environs where adults are constantly exhibiting these same behaviors.
Children emulate adults. Change starts with adults — parents, guardians, relatives, role models and, dare I say, celebrities. I think the respondent's teenaged son offered a great suggestion: minimize screen time (iPads and phones) in schools. Sounds like a sensible new Golden Rule.
James Cooke, Eden Prairie
I worked there for 17 years before being laid off at the end of 2010. I tried for six years to get my career going again, then I gave up and retired, even though I am in Generation X. Nothing worked out long-term, largely because the four promising jobs I had (even low-pay) came with a lot of overtime. Many of my other jobs were temp jobs to begin with, and few companies were hiring their temps. I see old friends who still work at Ameriprise and tell them I want to work there again, but my friends aren't hiring managers. I can't apply for jobs online, because my résumé shows 12 years of short jobs and retirement. For what my old job would pay now (almost $80,000) and no overtime, Minnesota can have one more worker.
