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Why Can’t Johnny Read or Lead?

-One Leader's Perspective

By Greg L. Thomas

The United States is going through a period of soul searching as it attempts to figure out what is wrong with our public school education system. For decades educators and the general public have been greatly alarmed with declining test scores, dropout rates and the amount of money spent on an educational system that continues to struggle. Numerous articles have been published in weLEAD Online Magazine about promoting leadership in our schools, including in this monthly issue. Years ago someone coined a slogan to highlight the many problems existing in public education. It was in the form of a question and simply asks, “Why can’t Johnny read”?

However, perhaps we should be asking a larger question, “why can’t Johnny read or lead”? Many concerned school officials, teachers, parents and community leaders have become so alarmed about the social pressures placed upon our youth that they have initiated special leadership programs to teach these desirable qualities to a new generation. It is a noble idea and I certainly applaud it because it is much needed. A little over a year ago I was asked to present a one-day series of leadership seminars to the incoming freshman class at a public college in New Jersey. The response I received from the students was enthusiastic. But upon reflection on the flight home, I kept asking myself what brought us to this point? Why do we have such a void of leadership skills among our youth? What are the roots of this problem and how can we begin to treat the cause and not simply deal with the effects? This is obviously a very complex issue. In this article, I only have the space to discuss part of the problem, but an important part. I want to discuss the role of the entertainment media and sports industry on our culture and on our children.

The youth of any generation are basically just a reflection of the society of their times with a lot more energy and idealism! However, they typically evaluate the values and culture of their times and either reject it (as in the 1960’s) or accept it (as in the 1980’s and 2000). The youth of today are in more of an acceptance mood and that is too bad! The reason I say it is too bad is because of what they are naturally accepting from the media and a self-absorbed materialistic society. First, I want to discuss the western media and why it is failing our youth. There was a time when the media felt responsible for its conduct and for the quality of what it put in print or on the airwaves. Most news organizations even policed themselves and the information they disseminated to the public because they believed there was a moral imperative to be accurate, truthful, and accountable. Some of the criteria at the time included how and when certain information would be broadcast because of its potential effect on the children who would be in the viewing audience.

Now let us skyrocket to the 21^st century. Our western media is primarily obsessed with two things…ratings and money. Whatever happened to a “moral imperative” was abandoned when media executives decided to sacrifice our youth to the alter of materialism! If you have a strong stomach, just take some time to survey the magazine section of your local grocery store, or visit your local CD/DVD music/video shop, or take a look at the television at just about any time of day. What will you find? You will find some good information that promotes positive values like new learning experiences, respect for others, tolerance, commitment, innovation and creativity. Unfortunately, this offering will be dwarfed by a steady and relentless flow of media sewage. Most of what you find will promote and encourage the following seven cultural philosophies:

1. Money and celebrity is the most important factor in our society

2. Females are mindless sex objects that can be referred to by any number of expletives.

3. Violence can be an exciting adventure.

4. Everyone is a “victim” and therefore is not responsible for their actions or behavior.

5. Marriage is simply a loose temporary partnership until someone more interesting arrives.

6. What you wear, how you look and who you know, are more important that what you are.

7. The “golden rule” is that he who has the gold can now make all the rules.

Some might say…”oh, come on, this is only entertainment”! “You should know the difference between entertainment and what is real?” My reply is that I do know the difference, and that is the reason I personally reject this media swill. However, why would any caring or responsible society subject their youth to this steady diet of mental manure? How does a 7-year old, or a 12–year old youth process the kind of information I discussed in the proceeding paragraph? What effects do these kinds of messages have in forming values, personal character and ethics? If we think the media executives care one iota about what they feed our youth, we are kidding ourselves. Ratings and money are the only driving factor in their distorted decisions. The sad news is that this is only the tip of the iceberg. Certain segments of the media make a healthy living disseminating exaggerated lies to the public as professional “spin doctors” and “media consultants”.

Players 2 Another industry whose importance in our culture has been greatly exaggerated by the media is sports. To be honest with you, I am no longer sure of the difference between entertainment and sports in the United States. I am not sure there is a distinction any longer. But there is one thing I am sure of, athletes should not be portrayed in the media as either heroes or cult figures. This is a real problem in our confused culture and we are sending our vulnerable youth the wrong message.

Much like the media itself, there was a time when professional sports felt responsible for its image and for the quality of athletes it sent out on the field. Most sports organizations and their commissioners policed their industry because they believed it was a great privilege to be grossly overpaid to “play with balls” for part of the year. There was a moral imperative to provide a product that was wholesome and good-clean fun. Some of the criteria at the time included the expectation of players, owners and officials to act responsibly because children might be watching them as role models. The implied social contract was that there was a tradeoff for being paid enormous sums of money inside the monopolistic sub-culture called professional sports. For this attractive benefit you were expected to avoid criminal activities like taking illegal drugs, shooting and stabbing people, abusing your spouse, and stealing things that didn’t belong to you…or else!

Sadly, this has also changed. What has tainted sports in our society today? The answer is unadulterated greed for ever increasing amounts of money. Again, in this case the “moral imperative” has been replaced with an effort to sell more athletic shoes and sign the latest mega dollar TV contract. On a far too regular basis, another overpaid athlete is in the news for irresponsible behavior, usually affordable only because of the enormous salary they receive while the fan gets to pay $30 US dollars to watch a live game. If they go to court they are typically represented by the best attorneys money can acquire, and are able to “buy” a different degree of justice than others. The message to our children is that it is “OK” to be an irresponsible self-centered person, especially if you are an athlete. Unlike most other careers, you won’t be fired, won’t be held accountable, you can buy your way out of responsibility and you will be held to a different standard than everyone else because, after all, you are a hero! Maybe we are all now paying the price for the media manure that was fed to these athletes 20 years ago when they were young, impressionable and forming their values!

Teacher with Pencil Therefore, what can we do to counter the poor examples of the media and sports industry on our children? How can we teach Johnny and Joanne to not only read, but also to lead? It takes a concerted effort of parents and our schools to teach the right values that later blossom into leadership skills! Beginning before children even enter school is the need not to equate power or money with success or celebrity status. Parents must teach their small children that power and money don’t make you better or superior, but more accountable. Celebrity doesn’t make you a hero, serving others makes you a hero! Children need to be taught that much of the modern media is not about the news, or being factual, but about subtle ways to suck dollars out of people’s pockets. They can be taught to reject the sewage and to do something productive with their time. Oh yes, the temptations will still be there…but the right foundation will have been laid in their minds.

Children need to be taught that the purpose of sports is to develop skills, character, teamwork and to have wonderful fun. Watching professional athletes can be enjoyable and exciting as well, but they are merely people…no better and no more valuable than a doctor or waitress. They can and should be taught that playing a game is better than watching a game. Yes, winning the “big game” can be a real thrill…but it’s only a game. Years ago I can remember when a former football coach of the Cleveland Browns was asked his opinion of the “big game” his team had just played in. Coach Sam put it in proper perspective when he said, “There are a million Chinese who couldn’t care less!”

Our schools should also develop programs to reinforce these values as the youngest children enter the system. They can be taught that what is most important in life is not money, power, status or celebrity, but to live with integrity and a desire to serve others. These are the two most important ingredients needed to sow the seeds of leadership in our young. Emphasize the right values and a balanced attitude toward the media and sports. Teach them that the real celebrities are teachers, policeman, fireman, factory workers, farmers and the office workers who work hard, play by the rules and make our world work! As they get older, show the examples of so-called celebrities and athletes whose wealth and power was shallow, empty and unproductive.

Girl Reading We can teach Johnny and Joanne to read and lead! We can begin to teach our children the missing 4^th “R” in education which is reasoning. Even if the parents are negligent of their role, we can change a new generation’s approach and attitude toward what real success and leadership is. This can be done in the same way our educational institutions changed a generation’s approach toward smoking and drunk driving. To do this requires commitment and a determination to give Johnny and Joanne a fighting chance to reach their tremendous potential. It will require the leaders of today to reach out and invest their efforts to train the young leaders of tomorrow!

Johnny and Joanne are waiting for us!

Comments to: gthomas@leadingtoday.org

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About the author:

Greg has an extensive thirty-five years experience in public speaking and has spoken to hundreds of audiences worldwide. Greg has a Master of Arts degree in Leadership from Bellevue University, where he also has served as an adjunct professor teaching courses in business management and leadership since 2002. His first book, 52 Leadership Tips (That Will Change How You Lead Others) was published in 2006 by WingSpan Press. His second book, Making Life's Puzzle Pieces Fit was published in March 2009. Both are available at amazon.com. Greg is also the president of Leadership Excellence, Ltd and a Managing Partner of the Leadership Management Institute. Leadership Excellence, Ltd. effectively builds individuals and organizations to reach their highest potential through enhanced productivity and personal development using a number of proven programs. He is also the president and founder of weLEAD Incorporated.