By Shea Schulman
Staff Writer ’06

Nothing is quite as frustrating as getting lectured on your behavior by your “superiors”; who wants to hear that their habits need reforming? The worst aspect of this scenario is when those lecturing you base their lectures on their own opinions. Just the other day, I endured a long speech on how the younger generation is deteriorating. This may be true, but the reasoning behind the statement is the fact that children these days avoid challenges and instead seek the easy way out.

When given a project rubric, I look at the requirements. By meeting all the requirements, I should get a 100 or at least a high A grade. However, these days, meeting the requirements often earns the student a low A or even a B grade. It is expected of students in many classes to embellish their project and go beyond the specific requirements. Just meeting requirements and not exceeding them is considered mediocre and not an example of good performance. Even though you completed all that was asked of you, the project is not perfect. This example, found commonly in almost all classrooms, is a deep injustice.

Finding the “easy way out” should be something practiced in every class. The American way itself is all about facilitating everyday practices. A great invention is one that makes life easier. Maybe we should go back to the time before the Industrial Revolution and before machines were made to weave and make fabric and textiles. Maybe weaving and picking by hand will help build character.

The fact of the matter is that life revolves around taking the easy way out. Those who find this quicker route most often succeed. This better route is not always easy to find. In fact, many times, it is more trouble than it’s worth. Yet finding the route shows motivation and a keen sense of intelligence.

If all this is true about the so-called “easy way out,” then how come teachers and others discourage the use of it? This would probably have something to do with the belief that goes in direct contrast to my own. It is the belief of many that hard work and stress are the best ways to produce high quality work. That sounds quite similar to the combination of things used to produce a heart attack…

Though the American way, in truth, does revolve around finding the easiest and most to-the-point method for accomplishment, there is little hope for change in the classroom. Teachers will continue to look for work that goes beyond what is required, and students will keep producing this work. However, let it be known that the easy way is not the bad way. The younger generation may be deteriorating in our country, but as long as kids keep thinking of new ways to find the infamous “easy route,” things will always turn out for the better.