In the midst of recent campus protests and violence, it’s crucial to question the absence of responsible adults. Boards, administrators, faculty, staff, and parents all have a role to play, yet they have failed to effectively guide the behavior of students. Gen X, the gap generation between Boomers and Millennials, bears some responsibility for this situation.
Gen X missed out on major historical events but grew up in the prosperous 1980s and 1990s. Key experiences for this generation included Republican presidencies, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the popular sitcom “Friends.” They were early adopters of the internet and take pride in their musical tastes.
However, while Gen X fought to protect the country after 9/11 and faced economic challenges during the Great Recession, they neglected their roles as parents and educators. As Garrison Keillor observed in 1985, “All the children are above average!” Gen X embraced helicopter parenting, siding with their children against teachers and shielding them from struggles and unfairness. They created a precedent that has led to today’s overbearing parents.
Unfortunately, while Gen Xers were overly protective, they also failed to pay attention to what was being taught in the classroom. It took the COVID-19 pandemic and forced online learning for many parents to realize the extent of indoctrination that was occurring in schools. Classic literature and American history were being replaced with narratives centered solely on racism, exploitation, and oppression. Gen X parents, many of whom are now professors and administrators, were caught off guard by this shift because they had stopped paying attention.
Gen X college leaders have eagerly adopted trendy ideologies such as critical race theory, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, drag queen story hours, technology in schools, and gamification of learning. Worse, many school leaders are now actively training educators and students to become social justice activists rather than learners.
The failure of Gen X as parents and teachers has led to significant consequences. Many young adults are now living at home, unprepared for life after college. The nation’s international ranking for education has remained stagnant for two decades. Gen Z is often labeled as lazy, but they have not been held accountable by Gen X. High anxiety, low self-esteem, underdeveloped coping abilities, and a sense of entitlement are prevalent among young people today. Universities have become bureaucratic morasses, fostering self-loathing, Marxist-inspired indoctrination, and closed-mindedness.
Generalizations about generations are inherently limited, and Gen X is not solely responsible for the current campus unrest. However, instead of blaming Gen Z for acting as they have been taught, it’s time for Gen X to reflect on their own failures. As Michael Jacksonå”± in his 1988 hit, perhaps we should start with “The Man in the Mirror.”
Dr. Tom Copeland, a Gen Xer and director of Research at the Centennial Institute of Colorado Christian University, regularly writes on public policy and the intersection of politics, culture, and religion.
