Bridging the Generation Gap

Minnesota District
Teachers’ Conference
October 2010
Outline
1. Intro and focus
2. Generations overview
3. Silents/Builders (History, Meet them, Be all things)
4. Boomers (History, Meet them, Be all things)
5. Generation X (History, Meet them, Be all things)
6. Millennials (History, Meet them, Be all things)
7. Concluding thoughts
8. Questions

Follow up sectional
In Depth and Thoughts and Questions
Purposes of today’s
presentation
•To understand generational differences

•To identify some tools for working with

generational differences

•To look at diversity in perspectives as a

marvelous opportunity!

•To be all things to all people!

Be all things to all people . . .
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NIV)
•  19Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a
slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the
Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under
the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am
not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To
those not having the law I became like one not having the
law (though I am not free from God's law but am under
Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the
weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become
all things to all men so that by all possible
means I might save some. 23I do all this for the
sake of the gospel, that I may share in its
blessings.
Our perspective
for today and forever

I have become all things to all

men so that by all possible
means I might save some. 23I do
all this for the sake of the
gospel, that I may share in its
blessings.
 Our perspective
for today and forever

Seek first to understand, and

then to be understood.

Walk a mile in their shoes.

THREE GIGANTIC
GENERATIONAL TRUTHS

1. People form core values and beliefs from age 0-

20 and shared core values create a “generation”
2. Longer life spans means FIVE living generations
now interacting
3. Generational core values exert astonishing
influence on decisions, choices, priorities, etc.

• KEY-Understand a generation’s formative years, then we

can make sense of core values they exhibit. Then we build
bridges.
MN Teachers’ Convention
October 2010
 GENERATIONS – that’s me??
Silents, Boomers (46- Gen Xer’s Millenials, Gen
Builders (65+) 64) (29-45) Me, Y, Z (0-28)
Defining Idea Duty Work Individuality Entertainment

Celebrate Victory Youth Savvy Excellence

without effort
Why Success? Fought Hard Were born I make it Entitlement
and Won therefore should happen
be a winner
Style Team player Self-absorbed Entrepreneur Do what’s asked

Have Rewards Earned them Deserve them Need them Deserve them
Because?
Work is An inevitable An exciting A difficult Necessary evil
obligation adventure challenge
Surprises in Some good, All good Avoid it- all Hope that they’re
life some bad bad good
Leisure is Reward for hard The point of life Relief To be consumed
work
 Silents,
GENERATIONS
Boomers (46- 64) Gen Xer’s (29-45) Millenials,
Builders (65+) Gen Me, Y, Z
(0-28)
Education A dream A birthright A way to get Pragmatic
is ahead
Managing Save (Save , then . . .) Hedge Spend now
Money Spend
Future Rainy day to “now” is important Uncertain but Skepticism
work for manageable

Values Discipline, self- Prosperity assumed, Conservative, Adaptable

denial hard self-absorbed, lower
work, accept deal, accept expectations, want
obedience to debt, widely close relationships,
authority, loyal, informed, want cautious, little
not very options, insist on concern for big
tolerant, quality, action ideas, prefer to
concern for oriented, upbeat work on things that
future music, make a difference
negatives, take introspective, in individual lives,
good care of low commitment, big value time more
what you have. ideas than money.
Generations connected to your school
Silents/Builders (age 65+)
 Patriarchs of congregation, builders of the school and
church
Baby Boomers (age 46-64)
 Leaders in congregation, grandparents of students,
 Passing the baton of leadership
Gen Xer’s (age 29-45)
 Parents of students, new leaders, “younger teachers”
Millenials, Gen Me, Y, Z (age 0-28)
 Your students and soon to be parents of students
 The newest teachers
 First up
Silents/Builders
(Age 65+)
Silent/Builders’ Values
established by
The Great Depression
WWII: struggle and victory
Cold War and The American High
Isms:
Conformism
Americanism
Racism
Chauvinism
Materialism
Organizationism (loyalty to the ________)
Values of Builders Builders (65+)
Meet the Builders/Silents
Defining Idea Duty
Celebrate Victory
Why Success? Fought Hard and Won
Style Team player
Have Rewards Earned them
Because?
Work is An inevitable obligation
Surprises in life Some good, some bad
Leisure is Reward for hard work
Education is A dream
Values of Builders Builders (65+)
Managing Money Save
Future
Meet the Builders/Silents
Rainy day to work for
Values Discipline
Self- denial
Hard work
Obedience to authority (conformity)
Loyal
Not very tolerant (e.g. change, people)
Concern for future negatives
Take good care of what you have
Passion now to live life
Want to have a meaningful presence in
their grandchildren’s lives
Being all things to Builders, Silents
Provide Law and Gospel
Celebrate their maturity, wisdom, and experience
Communicate clearly; build bridges/relationships
Understand resistance to change
Utilize their passion for Christian education
Emotional hot buttons: their generation’s legacy;
security; shared experiences with their grandchildren
and great grandchildren
Schedule events to help grandparents and
grandchildren connect
Invite and welcome them into the school
Give opportunities to serve and support
Being all things to Builders, Silents
Help them think and act young (intergenerational
sock hop)
Communicate in print (Grandparents’ Newsletter?)
Offer adult education (computers, digital photos,
etc.)
Add them to email list
Use them as problem solvers
Delegation – they will get it done
Use as mentors; try two-way mentoring
Give them opportunities to be productive and active
Use as presenters/interviews
 Next up:
Boomers
(age 46-64)
Boomers Values established by
80 million total members

Families taught clear sense of right and wrong

The movements
 Civil rights (Dr. M L King)
 Feminism (Gloria Steinem)

 Ecology (Silent Spring)

 War protest (Vietnam War – 58,000 die)

 Sexual revolution (Hugh Hefner, increasing divorce)

 Drug revolution (turn on, tune in, drop out)

Boomers Values established by
The isms– sort of
Idealism

Activism

Empowerment/engagement (I am woman, I am
strong)
Meritocracy (get the gold watch)

Optimism, but declining

Perfectionism
Boomers Values established by
Fierce life-long job competition
 Large numbers of Boomers
 plus Women and African-Americans

 High expectations

 but then come the lay-offs

Career driven workaholics (live to work vs work to live)

Now
 Activism returning
 Volunteerism

Forever young: Aging is mandatory; growing old is

optional
Control a disproportionate amount of this country’s wealth
Values of Boomers Boomers (46- 64)
Defining Idea Work
Meet
Celebrate
the Boomers
Youth
Why Success? Were born therefore should be a
winner
Style Self-absorbed
Have Rewards Because? Deserve them
Work is An exciting adventure
Surprises in life All good
Leisure is The point of life
Education is A birthright
Value of Boomers Boomers (46- 64)

Meet the(Save,
Managing Money Boomers
then . . .) Spend
Future “now” is important
Values Prosperity assumed,
self-absorbed,
accept deals,
accept debt,
widely informed,
want options,
insist on quality, action oriented,
upbeat music,
introspective,
low commitment, big ideas
Meet the Boomers
Whatever is right for the group is right for me
Appreciate sameness (e.g. Traditional liturgy)
Committee structures that are tried and true
Circle the wagons; get people on your team to
protect what’s important
Deferred pleasure until you have what you need
to make the purchase
Spirituality of place
Get it done!
The sandwich generation (parents and children)
Control a disproportional amount of this
country’s wealth
about 35% of the population
Being all things to the Boomers
Provide clear Law and Gospel
Boomer hot buttons: forever young, help them with
their finances, help them to connect with their
children and grandchildren, help them to continue
their passion to experience life, seize the next
moment
Do not call them
 Senior citizens Retiree Golden years
 Aging Elderly Silver years
 Prime time Mature
Intergenerational mentoring and coaching (activities)
Work within the church to transfer power to next
generation
May be looking for part-time employment
Being all things to the Boomers
They’re time starved– communicate efficiently– just the
facts
Church: help with complexities--grandparents, elder care,
still children at home, damaged retirement accounts
Help them connect with families
Avoid stereotypical “grandma/grandpa” references
Print still works; make it big enough and sharp contrast
enough—user friendly
Be prepared to handle natural aggressiveness – you will
know where he/she stands
Looking for ethical behavior
Consider future of boomer teachers—new work
arrangements; phased retirement
Next up:
Gen X
(and a little bit of Y)

(29-45)
Gen X Values established by
• 59 million Gen X’ers growing up in the 70s, 80s, and 90s
• Materialistically comfortable, but psychologically difficult
childhood (dual-career households, survival)
• Experiments
Widespread divorce (in ten years up 165%; 40% of Gen X; 8
of 20 in any classroom – the great incubator)
Widespread career mom’s (latchkey kids; more money; “we
gave them everything, but ourselves”)
New parenting era of permissiveness (be my children’s
buddies; negotiation rather than right or wrong; self esteem, at the
same time . . .)
Mobile society (job promotions/moves; choices; “So far away . . .
Doesn’t anybody stay in one place . . .cozy cocoon is gone.)
• The birth control pill, legalized abortion, feminist
movement
Gen X Values established by
• Being trivialized
• Media isolation: It’s all about them; separate viewing and
listening; no parental influence
• Media race to the bottom; shock-jocks radio and TV,
vulgarity; Howard Stern, MTV, bad guys rewarded
• Quarter life crisis: All will be rich and famous
• The computer generation (but another isolating activity)
• Premature wealth – know and can buy QUALITY
• Strong female generation; males seek identity (Title
IX, absent dads)
• Government scandal (Agnew, Nixon, Vietnam, Iran,
Clinton scandal, etc.)
Values of Gen Xer’s Gen Xer’s (29-45)
Meet Generation
Defining Ideas X & Self-Reliance
Individuality
Celebrate Savvy & independence
Why Success? I make it happen
Style Entrepreneur w/ attitude
Have Rewards Because? Need them
Work is A difficult challenge
Surprises in life Avoid it- all bad
Leisure is Relief
Education is A way to get ahead
Value of Gen Xer’s Gen Xer’s (29-45)
Meet Generation
Managing Money X
Hedge (Deep-in-debt?)
Future Uncertain but manageable
Values Conservative,
lower expectations,
want close relationships (Friends),
cautious,
little concern for big ideas,
prefer to work on things that make a
difference in individual lives,
value time more than money.
 Meet Generation X (1)
• Distrustful of major institutions (gov, business, WELS?)
• Cynical toward older generations (at least
disconnected, corrector or mistakes)
• Individuality
• Ask first, what is good for the individual
• Individualized style and differentiation
• Can be more focused on their own child than the good of the school.
• Highly attached, protective and involved in their
children’s lives (helicopter, stealth bomber)
• Self-taught, educated about educational best practices
• Sensitive to the prices they pay and the value in return
• Disempowered and disengaged (I can’t do anything about
IT.)
Meet Generation X (2)
• Rather unimpressed with authority
• Appreciate difference/multiple choices
• Spirituality of journey…find spiritual insight wherever
they are and in relationships, not primarily place;
little to no denominational loyalty
• A different kind of loyalty (cautious loyalty)
• Pragmatic: do what it takes (Just do it!)
• Not a generation of “joiners” (unless it involves their
children); prefer short term
• Willing to work hard; but want to be there for family
(work-life balance) (work to live)
• Few trustworthy heroes; lots of celebrities
Being all things to Gen X
• Provide clear Law and Gospel
• Help get parents into the Word with their children
• Assume little to no trust; work to build trust; say what you
mean and mean what you say; if you’re lying, you’re dying
• Stress personal accountability, contribution, and courtesy
(e.g. School Home Covenant, written format)
• Stress benefits & blessings of Christian education (best
choice)
• Offer data, standards, and value added
• Offer real time service (24 hour rule and follow-through)
• Prepare for the modular “opt out” consumer and the
innovative high tech competitor
• Treat students as individuals; give choices
Being all things to Gen X
• Provide positive reinforcement
• Help them create a sense of family & roots &
traditions
• Make school fun and educational
• Catch the Dad Wave
• Stress the mission of the school
• Use stories– to connect, to share mission and
vision
• Explain time demands up front (work with time
issues)
• Give lots of feedback; quantify as much as possible
• Provide a place of SAFETY for their children

Christian Schools and Gen X
Losers
Schools stuck in the past
Schools with hand-me-down
computers
Denominational schools “just going
through the motions”
Schools that emphasize rote learning
“One-size-fits-all” academic
curriculums
Ho-hum academics
Phone trees
Formality
 From Marketing Christian
Schools (c. 2006) Dan Krause
Winners
Schools that obsess over convenience
factors
Schools seamlessly integrating state-of-the-
art technology
Christian schools who “walk the talk”
Schools that emphasize creativity and
thinking skills
Schools that emphasize, and differentiate
by providing a unique educational
experience
Excellent academics
Email notification (texting; blogs; Facebook;
grades on-line, website, One Call Now, etc.)
Authenticity
  From Marketing
Christian Schools and Gen X Christian Schools (c.
2006)
Losers Winners

Higher-priced schools coasting on Schools that really deliver the

their great reputation, earned over goods; schools that are great
decades (WELS 150 year tradition; values; value added
4th largest, etc.)

Stiff, unreal teachers Authentic, warm, accepting,

positive teachers (like Mr.
Rogers)
Parent-Teacher leagues “Help me help my child”
activities
Heavy-handed, top-down leadership Cooperative leadership
J.D. Powers and Associates found “each successive
generation expects higher quality and better service.”
Next up:
Millenials
( and some Gen me, Y, Z)

(0-28)
Millennials, Gen Me Values established by
Most adult-supervised generation—lack of free play
Uncertainty: 9/11/2001, Katrina, school shootings
Closer families—more nurturing and protecting
Given time, attention, and materials by parents
Attitude of gratitude toward family
Pressures
Grades --- competition, pushing learning down to
younger and younger
Time – schedules full to the brim

The Me and We Generation (Generation Give)

Emphasis of community service
Millennials, Gen Me Values established by
Failures of Catholic Church, sports heroes,
corporate America
Helicopter parents (Blackhawk/Stealth
Bomber Parents)
Girls roar ahead; boys fall behind.
Extended adolescence (debt and jobs)
Technology everywhere
Everybody gets a trophy
Multicultural environment
Surrounded by fame and celebrity
Instant access to information and other people
Values of Millennials Millenials(0-28)
Defining Idea Entertainment
Meet Millenials/Generation Me
Celebrate Excellence without effort
Why Success? Entitlement
Style Do what’s asked
Have Rewards Because? You deserve it
Work is Necessary evil
Surprises in life Hope that they’re good
Leisure is To be consumed
Education is Pragmatic
Managing Money Spend now
Future Skepticism
Values Adaptable (TBD)
Meet the Millennials
80 million strong (begin/end is undefined)
Born in 1980s – Millennials - Gen Y – Net Generation
Taught to be independent, special individuals (self
esteem stressed at young age)
Products of their Culture – put yourself first and feel
good about yourself
Technology dominated
Average teen spends 25-30 hours a week social networking
electronically.
Introduced themselves to the world via Facebook
Strong interest in spirituality, but superficial
Postponement of commitment (e.g. career, marriage,
children)
Meet the Millennials
Crave variety and change
Tend to have unrealistic expectations
Used to and desire instant feedback recognition
and reward (tailored to their interests)
Higher diagnosis of depression, anxiety, and
feelings of suicide
Self-expression is important
Desire to be rich and famous and a celebrity
More plugged into print “news”
High degree of confidence
Being all things to Millennials
Share the Law and the Gospel
Teach of God’s role and church’s role in life
Focus on relationships and community of believers
Drop emphasis on self-esteem and uniqueness
DO NOT reward narcissistic behavior
Teach responsibility and accountability
Help develop realistic self-appraisal skills
Self-compassion – understanding we’re not perfect!
Realize you will rarely have their undivided attention
Teach thrift
Teach time prioritization
Being all things to Millennials
Provide clear goals, structure, and focus
Provide ongoing mentoring -intergenerational
Provide clear rules on use of technology
Make assignments relevant and variety-filled
Communicate via technology
May need to teach conflict resolution skills
While it is easy to give in to students/parents,
(example – extra credit for one student when
requested), in the long run, not beneficial
Emphasize future success dependent on taking
responsibility and learning from mistakes (4 R’s)
Keep communication customized, relevant, sincere
Being all things to Millennials
Help Parents . . .
o Not to be a helicopter parent
o Not to put their children on a pedestal
“My child is special and deserves special
attention”
o To be an ally to the teacher – partner
o To learn that it’s OK to fail sometimes –
learning experience
o To have realistic expectations
o To teach social skills – caring for others
(bullying)
A comment on the Internet
From the Generational Imperative:
o Silents view the Internet primarily as a way to
keep in touch with family members and
friends.
o Boomers view it as an electronic encyclopedia
and source of information, although they’re
using it more often now for entertainment.
o Xers view it as information and entertainment.
o Millennials view it as information,
entertainment, and the air they breathe, as
another appendage to their bodies.
Concluding Thoughts
None of us were able to choose the year we were
born
None of us were able to choose the two decades of
our formative years
None of us chose the generation to which we belong,
yet it influences our decisions and priorities and
values.
Yet, we need to all work together, to focus on what
we have in common, to be all things to all people,
to seek first to understand, and then to be
understood.
May God bless our efforts to
Bridge the Generation Gap!