Student Responses to "Facing the Problems of Youth"
by Eleanor Roosevelt

Created by the students in Joseph M. Gardewin's Social Studies classes, Sacred Hearts Academy, Honolulu, Hawaii. Spring Semester, 2000.

For other teaching ideas, visit the Lesson Plans section to the Dear Mrs. Roosevelt Feature.

Education today is not purely a question of the education of youth; it is a question of the education of parents, because so many parents, I find, have lost their hold on their children. One reason for this is that they insist on laying down the law without allowing a free intellectual interchange of ideas between themselves and the younger generation. I believe that as we grow older we gain some wisdom, but I do not believe that we can take it for granted that our wisdom will be accepted by the younger generation. We have to be prepared to put our thinking across to them. We cannot simply expect them to say, "Our older people have had experience and they have proved to themselves certain things, therefore they are right." That isn't the way the best kind of young people think. They want to experience for themselves. I find they are perfectly willing to talk to older people, but they don't want to talk to older people who are shocked by their ideas, nor do they want to talk to older people who are not realistic.

We might just as well accept things which are facts as facts and not try to imagine that the world is different, more like what we idealized in the past. I have a letter just the other day from a mother who told me that she had brought up several daughters, and that they never did certain things which are very common today among young people. She was sure that if we never countenanced or spoke of certain things in our homes our children would never do those things. Well, it just so happens that I have a number of boys and they happen to know the mother's girls. I have, therefore, seen a good deal of them, and they did every single thing that their mother told me they never did. I think it would have been far better if she had established a type of genuine relationship with her children which would have allowed them to be honest with her. Then she would have had an opportunity to put across her own ideas with some kind of hope that they would at least be considered.

But if the relationship is such that youth has no desire to talk to older people, then, I think, it is entirely impossible to help the youth of today—and they need help badly. I think they are very glad to have it, too, when it is given in a spirit of helpfulness, not self-righteousness. We don't need to idealize things that are past; they look glamorous, but perhaps they were not so glamorous when we really lived through them.

My own feeling would be that the most important education is the education which will enable us, both in our homes and in our schools, to understand the real problems that our children have to meet today. It is easy enough to impart book knowledge, but it is not so easy to build up the relationship between youth and older people which is essential to the working out of their problems—very difficult problems on which young people need our leadership and our understanding.

We cannot pass over the fact that the world is a hard world for youth and that so far we have not really given their problems as much attention as we should. We smile—I smiled myself the other day when one young boy said that he hoped to go in and clean up politics. Politics need to be cleaned up, of course. Everything that is human needs that particular kind of enthusiasm. But we older people know that we don't always succeed as easily as these young ones think they can. Yet I doubt if we should smile. I think that we should welcome their help, and find places where this tremendous energy that is in youth—if it cannot be used immediately in making a living—may at least be used where it is so greatly needed today.

I should like to leave with you this one idea which I have been thinking about a great deal of late: the necessity for us as parents, as teachers, as older people, to put our minds on the problems of youth, to face realities, to face the world as it is and the lives that they have to live—not as we wish they were, but as they are—and, having done that, to give our sympathetic help in every way that we can.

Kayla A.

I think that this piece is very true today and it will always be true for generations to come. Parents, as well as the "youth" need to be very educated, not only academically but communication-wise too. Parents or the elderly have to listen to what the youth is saying and not just assume that what they are saying is stupid or irrelevant.

The three main points that Mrs. Roosevelt makes and discusses are: that there is no communication going on between the older generation and the younger generation, seeing and listening to our children and their problems, and after you hear their problems act on it and try to help out. The most important issue, I think, she talks about is communication. Communication is very important in every relationship you make throughout your lives. Either with your parents, friends, boyfriend/girlfriend, or husband/wife. If there is no communication there is no relationship because you don't talk, the other either gets mad or hurt and you start to drift apart. So I think everyone has to learn how to communicate and get along with each other.

The other point Mrs. Roosevelt discussed was about seeing the problems of the youth today and in the past. ... Most elderly people today, might see the problems of the youth but don't do anything about it or they might be tied up in their own problems and not even spot the ones of the youth. For example, the Columbine shooting, no one saw that this was going to happen but some of the teachers sensed something and still they never did anything. I am not blaming it on the teachers but I am just saying that if they knew the other kids were picking on other students, they should have put a stop to it.

The other main point Mrs. Roosevelt discussed was about helping solve the problems of the youth. We or the elderly people can do that by listening to them and by being there for them. ... There are a lot of ways that we can help the youth today. We just have to be there and do what we can or what we think will help.

Candace B

In this reading there are three points that I find very interesting. Some true and some not true. They are 1: The part where it says we are willing to talk to older people that aren't shocked by our ideas, 2: Adults don't pay any attention to what's going on besides in the house, and 3: If a child doesn't want to talk then they have serious problems. There are many adults who say," we didn't do that when we were your age!" Well hello that was about thirty years ago and times have changed. When we do try to talk to our parents or any grown up, they just say its our fault and that its bad. I try to tell my mom what goes on, but in the end she makes me feel stupid. She makes me feel like what ever I do isn't good enough or that its a dumb idea. So I hardly tell her anything know whether it has to do with homework or myself. Adults watch the news and say, "is that how corrupt children are today, well I know my kid is safe." Whatever to that! My mom and a lot of other mothers think exactly like that. They don't know that when we go to school there are things and people that we could get hurt from. Plus there is a lot of PEER PRESSURE. People also think that public schools are worse than private schools. That's all a bunch of BS! I could say that there's just as much sex, violence, and drugs that teenagers do in private schools and public schools. If a child doesn't want to talk to an adult, it doesn't mean they can't be helped. It means that it's none of their business. We like to talk to friends or people that won't yell at us. Once there's a yell nothing comes out of our mouths and nothing ever will again. Sometimes though, some of us just want to be left alone. Its not that we think we know everything. It's just that we want to experience everything for ourselves. We can't go through life with someone always holding our hand.

Heather M

After reading Eleanor Roosevelt's letter I believe that the problems faced by youth then are similar to the problems faced by youth today. It is true that parents do not talk about things because they believe it to be better. They live life thinking that if they do not talk about it their children will never do it. I have personal experience that not talking to someone my age about certain things makes them want it more. ... Before parents or anyone older starts to judge someone who is young they should put themselves in our shoes. Older people are quick to judge without wondering what led them to do this. .... Eleanor was right when she said that it is not easy to establish and build a relationship between young and old people but if we do not try we have failed. .... We are sometimes afraid to talk to people who are older than us because we feel as though we will get only a negative response or they will question us a possibly raise their voice at us and they just do not understand. Older people need to listen to the youth and understand instead of judging. In it's own way this assignment does make Eleanor Roosevelt come alive for me. She talks about the problems faced but instead of a negative response she understands. It was really nice to read a letter written by someone older who understands young people. Not very many older people are able to do that.

Joy A.

Eleanor Roosevelt was a woman who could have done some extraordinary things I her lifetime. She chose to help people in need of help. By reading just a few of her responses to letters, I believed that they were not very personal. It almost seemed as if she had not written the letter herself. After reading this, I now believe that she was not able to get personal with everyone that she wrote to. Many of the issues that she brought up still hold true till today. The issues of education by way of learning from parents, school, and relationships with other people. When people learn from their parents they have the option to use it or forget about it. Some children deliberately disobey their parents just to get them mad. ... Eleanor was right, because children today tell their parents one thing and then they do something else. School and relationships fall under the same category because you make a lot of friendships in school. There is a lot of influence from your peers to go against something that your parents have told you. Sometimes in school, a child is taught something different from what they have been told by their parents. Many children with problems try to think of a person to talk to, who would help rather than disapprove. I have been in a few situations that didn't pan out very well. I talked to someone, who I though could help, but instead became very angry. Many children in the United States go through that everyday. ...

Ashley C.

After reading about what Roosevelt felt about youths, I agree with her totally. I believe that every youth today should grow up with a happy life. In order to make that happy life come true, it all depends on the adults and parents. .... Because they never had a good life, they would want their kids to have a better one. I know not all parents are like this but this is what usually happens. Our future depends on how the youths are treated. .... One main point that I think is true is when Eleanor Roosevelt talks about having a relationship with the youth. That is still true today because a good stable relationship with a youth will determine the youth's way of thinking. However, I think that the relationship has to begin early and from that point move up into establishing a stronger relationship. It is sort of like school- you have to start early with the easy stuff and as you grow older, it gets harder and harder. I believe that once the youth is old and then you try to start a relationship, it won't work. The youth has figured out to do things their own way. Everything must start early.

Another point I thought was important was the way of bringing up a child ... Parents don't have complete control over their kids. .... All parents can do is to try their hardest. They must start from day one up until they move out of the house. Usually the youth will listen and will respect their parents. I know all the parents really wish for is to see the youth at least somewhat listen to them. .... The last point I believe was true today was that parents, teachers, and older people should not ignore problems that youths face. If we refuse to help youths, things could happen such as suicide, etc. A youth being ignored is something that is very important. ... No one should not be able to ask an adult for help. Adults should look out for youths and be ready and willing to help.

I thought this essay should be read to everyone. People need to realize the importance of having a good relationship with youths. ... Everyone needs help. I also realized how much Eleanor Roosevelt was important to people and I realize why so many wrote to her.

Noe B

This piece is very true to today's youth. It surprised me that youth, some 65 years ago, were experiencing the same kind of problems as youth today do. I would think it'll be different because life was fairly different and society was different. I know that my personal relationships with my parents aren't all that great. I can't really talk to them about my problems and what I'm going through. I feel as if they won't understand and that they'll yell or criticize me. ... I feel more comfortable talking to my friends about my problems because I feel as if they understand me better because they are going through it too. ... Eleanor Roosevelt stated that, " education today is not purely a question of the education of youth, it is a question of the education of parents, because so many parents, I find, have lost their hold on their children." I believe that this is true, even some 65 years later. Parents aren't educated in the reality of today's youth and all the problems that they face. And because of this, they lose a hold on their children. Parents and children find it hard to relate to each other. ... This essay makes Eleanor come alive because she is able to understand what we have to go through as youth. She knows what needs to be done in order to make our lives better.

Malia R.

A good point she made was the one about laying down the law without allowing a free intellectual interchange of ideas between the younger and older generation. I think that is so true because if there was more of that intellectual freedom instead of the "I'm right your wrong," it would make kids more understanding and realistic. Kids just want someone older who they can talk to and who they feel comfortable and secure with. Another great point was that parents should build a better relationship with their children. Without that relationship they might lose that bond with their child forever. If the part she wrote that some girls were never taught some things in the house but they still did it and knew about it. Because not everything happens in the house. ... Eleanor Roosevelt really did come alive to me. In her writing I saw how much she really cared. Usually you need to know the person to know if they are kind. But I could just tell that she was a loving woman. She cared about the youth and teens unlike some people today. So now I can see why all the young girls would write to her and ask her for help.

It is still true today that parents seem to always lay down the law without letting the kids take part in the law making. ... They (adults) always want to be the decision-maker....

Arlynn

After reading the article I was amazed because it is so true in my family and for a couple of friends that I know. Older people have to realize that this is a new generation with new ideas and new things to explore. ... Adults and older people also shouldn't make limited standards for us youths to live out our lives. That is what stresses us the most. Like my parents for instance. Once my report card comes in they will only focus on the low grades. They'll just ignore the higher grades that I put a lot of effort into. They will start to complain and say how they want a 4.0 and stuff like that. They have to face reality. Some of us people aren't the type of smarty pants who always brings home an "A." The more restrictive rules they set for us will only be broken. We are always curious that we want to find out why that is bad and why can't we do things or go anywhere. By them doing this to us, they are only making us feel like locked up prisoners with no fun at all.

The older you get may not mean you are smarter than us young youths. As years go by we have been given access to a lot of things, things that they weren't able to get when they were our age. Those older people have to learn how to listen to us and step at the same level as us so they could realize the things we are going through at our level. Older people may think they know more than us just because they have been there and done that. But us youth are smart too. We can learn on our own and learn from our mistakes. Life was way different for them before compared to our lives we have today.

Staci W

I thought that this essay was written today, by a teacher or parent or one of the authors from the book "Chicken Soup". It is an amazing how this woman named Eleanor Roosevelt wrote and was so knowledgeable on relationships between child and parent. ... Many parents today do not understand how to deal with children or teenagers today. I feel it is remarkably well written piece and that it should be emailed and sent to all the parents, who may be struggling in today's society. ... Our parents don't talk to us as they should about sex, violence, drugs, until something tremendously big happens. There are TV ads that encourage parents to talk to our kids and they ignore it because it may cause uneasiness or tension. But my mom always talks to me, so I feel that I can be honest with her and that I know she will at least try to understand what I am going through. .... as Eleanor spoke, " I think it would have been far better if she had established a type of genuine relationship with her children which would have allowed them to be honest with her, and then she would have had an opportunity to put across her own ideas with some kind of hope, that they would at least be considered." My parents, both I can talk to, but more my mother because she is a woman and I feel that I am more honest and I have become a more honest person because of her and being able to talk to her helped. Although we do have our disagreements, we come to a joint conclusion and we know we love each other. In conclusion I agree with Eleanor when she said "They want to experience for themselves". Its the only way that we will learn the lessons of life, for ourselves, though our parents want to save us from making them, they can't we have to learn on our own, to really mature and grow up.

Shelby S

Eleanor Roosevelt's way of thinking is the way I wish my parents would think. ... She can think the way a teen does today. Even thought this was written 65 years ago it still relates to how children and teens are today. If my parents thought the same was as Eleanor Roosevelt, I think we would have a better relationship because we would understand each other.

My relationship with my parent right now is pretty non-existent. My parent's theory is "My way or no way". I pretty much tired of arguing with them because it never goes the way I want it to go. I think I'm going to show this paper to my parents and they can learn. The first saying I liked is "One reason for this is that they insist on laying down the law without allowing a free intellectual interchange of ideas between themselves and the younger generation." This is referring to the parents and how they just say what they want and give the child no opinion and just say this is the way it goes and there is no further discussion. My parents are this way but I argue about it and they try to ignore me. I know they can hear me because I yell only so loud. The other saying that I like is "They want to experience for themselves" This is referring to the children or teens. It is saying that if our parent say that something is bad we don't want to take their word for it we just want to learn ourselves. .... The way I think is that if you never tried something how do you know you do like it? An example is food or a friendship or a new culture.

Malia A

The essay which Eleanor Roosevelt wrote some 65 years ago seems to still be true today. ... In her essay she said that the young people "want to experience for themselves" and she is true with that statement. Everyone, no matter what age you are, must learn from their own mistakes and mishappenings. I agreed with Eleanor Roosevelt when she said that we cannot simply expect them to say, "Our older people have had experience and they have proved certain things, therefore they are right." We must experience for ourselves and think about whether something is right or wrong. I am very willingly to talk to older people ... but I want to also be able to express my own thoughts without being shut down. Another thing that made me think ... is when she spoke to a mother who said that her daughters had never done things and gave a whole list, but only in the end to find out that they did mostly every single one. I believe that relationships between parents and their children are not as good as they should be. This essay it made me think about some people who believe that their children are the perfect angels when actually they are the total opposite. They can't be really honest with their parents. My own relationship with my parents I feel pretty good one because I communicate well with them and I can be honest and not have to lie my way around things. I can tell them things freely knowing that they will always be by my side to help me through the thick and thin. ... one thing we must remember that Eleanor Roosevelt said was "We don't always succeed as easily as these young ones think they can." ... And the older people can't keep looking at the younger peoples lives trying to make them live it as they want to but rather they must let the younger people live the lives that they have to live. So as I read this essay by Eleanor Roosevelt for myself I found that everything she has written is true. She does understand what we go through in our lives which makes her seem very real and makes her come alive with her realistic self.

Emi U

I could not believe that this was written 65 years ago. I totally agree with what she is trying to say and how she wants to help. It is easy to learn things in the text book .... But, it is hard to learn about life. I think our main question in life is "How do we live in the world today without going to a wrong road?" Yes, I know our parents, teachers, and family members are there to guide us and help us walk threw the road but, sometimes they are not listening. They are not listening to our words, and that will become the first reason to go off from the right road. Older people and younger people do not agree with some problems but like Mrs. Roosevelt's said we have to try. We have to communicate more with each other or no one will ever know how young people feel or how the older people feel. Even though we (young people) get mad, or upset we always want the understanding of a older person. it feels good when you can be your self and express your feelings and they still will understand. that is when respect comes in and everyone will be more nice and caring to each other. In reality we have many problems, but no one can go through them by themselves. We young will fall apart and brake. That is when a parent, teacher or any adult can give us a hand, a shoulder and listen to what we are going threw. Not yell at us. ... Adults don't really have to do anything but take part of there time and just listen. I still can't believe this is written 65 years ago. .... It's kind of sad that not much had changed ....

Nicole B

My reaction toward Eleanor Roosevelt's comment on how youth's face many problems seem to be in a positive mode. What I am saying is that her point of view on how youth's have problems are true. As a teenager myself, I always have a difficult time trying to open up to my parents because I'm afraid that they're going to send me back negative information. To me, what she says is right, about "learning to accept things which are facts as facts and not trying to imagine that the world is different, more like what we idealized in the past." This tells me that all of us should learn to deal with what happened instead of dreading on what should have happened. Another good point she made was on how both the youth and the adult could help each other out by sharing feed back with each other. For example, a youth could share positive energy with an adult and that alone could help them out with certain things and an adult could do the same thing by sharing their opinions with us because most of us would be willing to listen. Most adults don't realize, but teens are willing to listen to an adult if the adult doesn't shoot them down right there on the spot. This essay by Eleanor Roosevelt made me realize that both youth and adults can agree on something ... and learn to deal with what happens in life.

Amy S.

Personally, I feel the same as the older reader. Everything Eleanor Roosevelt said/wrote in 1935 still stands true and strong in today's world. Three important points made by Mrs. Roosevelt were that the older generation cannot simply think that we, the younger generation, will just believe everything they tell us. Another point is that parents should have as open and honest relationship with their children. And the last point is that most of today's youth has no desire to talk to older people, especially parents. Because they have been around and are experienced, older people feel that they are right about generally everything. However, they fail to recognize the fact that we as teens need to experience things for ourselves in order to develop our mind. If we don't go out and learn for ourselves, we will never be able to survive without their constant influence that "babies" us. All parents and teens should be able to talk about problems, concerns, and basically everything. If this type of relationship is not achieved, then the teens will hide things from the parents and never consider the parents' advice because they'll just say, "No mom! You don't understand. It is true that most of today's youth don't want to even talk to the older people about serious matters. Personally, My parents tend to get on my nerves, so I look to my friends and God for help. My parents never want to reason with me; it's always their way or the high way. It is interesting that this letter written in 1935 still applies to us in the year 2000, and it probably will apply to the lives of the people in the year 2010, 2020, etc. I have always felt so distant from the people that lived before my time, but knowing that they went through the same thing/problems brings me that much closer to them.

Deanna P.

I agree with what Eleanor Roosevelt had to say about our youth facing the problems we have today. Until this day, I believe that students still do have the hesitancy to talk with their parents. ... In order for a child to communicate with their parents, they must have to feel comfortable and relaxed and also know that their parents are always their for them. Also, while I was reading this, I realized how true it is about our youth believing that the elders knows best. Simply, that's not true. You may age every year, but sometimes your knowledge for things won't grow. It's best for people to experience things and then learn from experience. That's why teens now days get curious about things and they have this wanting to experience. ... It is easy to read from a book, but it's not easy to partake in these real life situations. Parents must learn how to communicate better with their young one's. They must establish a genuine relationship with them so that they may be the way they want them to be. Last but not least, while reading this essay, I never realized that older people knew what the youth was facing today. Finally, there's someone who knows what we're going through. Parents and older people must learn the problem that youth faces today.

Katie S.

What Eleanor Roosevelt is saying not only relates to us now, 65 years later, will also relate to people in the future because her essays deal with human characteristics. It is a human characteristic to think of one's past as the best, to think their generation is better. ... Between the reminiscing and the ideals often the older and younger generation hit tension. What happens is the older generation insist their the best, that people were nicer in their day, that "folks were still honest." The old generation has goals and ideals for the future and when that doesn't happen it's because the younger generation screwed it up. Then younger generation has it's attitudes about older people and in the end a cycle of distrust and tension occurs. Eleanor's article speaks to the older generation about how they can over come this obstacle. First, of all she recognizes the fact the old generation can be snotty and "self-righteous" about their past and the way their generation does things Eleanor points out that the young people sense their arrogance and react to it by disregarding what older people have to say. Second, the older generation takes for granted that the young people will accept their wisdom. Third, the younger generation knows the older people know better, by we want to face and figure out each problem for ourselves. Older people must guide younger ones, not tell them what to do.

What Eleanor was basically saying to the older people was give young ones the respect you want to be shown, don't boast that your generation is best, and most of all keep an open mind about new ideas. She was right when she said we need their help, but we won't get everything out of it if there isn't a good relationship. If people follow Eleanor's suggestion then much prosperity is ahead.

La'Ena B.

Eleanor Roosevelt states that older people can not expect us, the younger generation, to just accept the wisdom and experience they have. Because how did they get that wisdom though their own experiences and life. They made their own mistakes when they were younger and so now they have gained wisdom. A mistake is never a mistake if you learn from it, it becomes a learning experience, a milestone in our lives. Parents and teachers need to guide us and help us. What she says is true we will willingly talk about our ideas and feelings if we feel that we are given the room to experience things. My mom tells me things from her own experience yet no matter what she says I will go and make my own "learning mistakes" but what we both feel comfort in is that after it's all over, I can talk to her and tell her how I experienced a situation and I feel confident that if I come home crying, she doesn't tell me, "I told you so" but she talks to me and makes me explain what I learned. This is a comfort all parents should give their children. When parents don't speak about certain things in their home, it shows a child that their parents are not aware. For example, if a parent never talks about smoking, then if a teenager starts smoking, they don't think that their parents are aware of the possibility whereas if parents talk about it often, the child is more aware of his/her actions because they know that their parents are aware and may notice some signs. The relationship between parents and their children is one of the essential aspects of how we, children, will face the world. We face very difficult problems each day and we need someone to guide us not tell us what to do. We need someone who will understand us and let us feel secure in who we are. I like her last statement "to face the world as it is and the lives that they have to live - not as we wish they were, but as they are - and, having done that, to give our sympathetic help in everyway that we can." Parents really need to look at the type of environment that we live in. Society makes it difficult for us to be who we truly are. So, we need all the encouragement and sympathetic help we can get. I think Eleanor Roosevelt's thoughts from 65 years ago very well describes youth today and what we need to develop a successful, fulfilling life.

Dorothy L.

After reading the letter written by Eleanor Roosevelt, it seemed a little more clear to me why young adults would write to her. She seems to see the perspective that adults see but at the same time, she goes and thinks about the children too. She wants to have a relationship with them. And, not just any relationship, an HONEST relationship. That's the best thing possible. She looked at both sides and made a decision. "They (the youth) want to experience for themselves. I find they are perfectly willing to talk to older people, but the don't want to talk to older people who are not realistic." Eleanor Roosevelt stated this perfectly. In the minds of teenagers we think that parents don't understand and so they never want to talk. It's like talking to a wall. Tell them commands and they're (parents) happy because the wall doesn't talk back. We want to talk back! Eleanor Roosevelt knew this and told the world. Families today, and also back then, seem to share some of the same problems. ... Have you ever stopped to think about that maybe we are right? "It is easy enough to impart knowledge, but it is not so easy to build up the relationship between youth and older people which is essential to the working out of their problems." Start talking. Make the effort! It'll be good for both of you. Roosevelt would have been proud to see everyone understanding what she means and going out ad doing it. ... Maybe parents think that because of this, parents think we are "sooo smart". But we're not. We're only children who still need advice from parents. "I think that we should welcome their help .... Take the chance. What's the worst that could happen? Your children might like you? I know children who are so close with their parents, they're like sisters. Then, I know children who don't even know their parents' names. The point is, children don't really change, and neither do parents. But somebody has to make that effort and make it work. Roosevelt's talking to you-yes you! Help everyone. It may not save the world but it may save what relationship you have with your children!!

Abby A

I really liked this article. It really brings out the truth- that missing link between younger children and their parents. If only parents could read this, maybe just maybe they would think twice about this article. The three main points Mrs. Roosevelt make that I think is very true today is, "Education today is not purely a question of the education of youth; it is a question of the education of parents because so many parents, I find, have lost their hold on their children. One reason for this is that they insist on laying down the law without allowing a free intellectual interchange of ideas between themselves and the younger generation." This is very true, even until today. Many parents have lost their control and hold of their own children. When parents scold their children they yell and yell not giving their children a chance to even speak and say what they feel. This is one big mistake many parents make and do to their children promoting a weak relationship between them. Another point that was made through a quote, which I thought was good and true was "But if the relationship is such that youth has no desire to talk to older people, then I think it is entirely impossible to help the youth today- and they need help badly. I think they are very glad to have it, too, when it is given in a spirit of helpfulness, not self-righteousness. This point given is also very true. How can others help children of the youth if there is not communication involved. Also children are glad to receive help with the spirit of helpfulness, and not self-righteousness. When children are being scolded, yelling DOES NOT help. It is better to talk to them in a calm matter and say what you feel and ask them what and how they feel, too. And when scolding, children don't like to be yelled at and having their guilt and mistakes being shoved into their faces, because it won't help at all. Another point that I also really like was "the necessity for us parents, as teachers, as older people, to put our minds on the problems of youth, to face realities, to face world as it is and the lives that they have to live not as we wish they, but as they are and having done that, to give our sympathetic help in every way that we can." This is very true. Parents, teachers, etc have to stop pressuring children into becoming someone they are not or don't want to be. We have to accept how they live, and who they are inside and not outside. ... I love this article. I love it because Mrs. Roosevelt described how others should be toward the younger generation- which my parents are. I love my parents for being who they are and for accepting everything that I am regardless of the many big mistakes I have made in my life. They accept me for who I am and not what I do and I love them dearly for that.

Catherine B.

This essay is mostly about education, relationship between children and daughters. "Education today is not purely a question of the education of youth; it is a question of education of parents, because so many parents, I find, have lost their hold on their children." As a teenager, I feel my parents have lost hold on me because they tell me what and what not to do, they don't let me freely let me express what I think ... I feel that communication and understanding are the key points that will help our society of youth get things done. ... Teenagers and kids today can't deal with problems on their own, they need someone to help at home or at school. Education is the key to open doors for our youth .... Eleanor Roosevelt is a woman who makes youth more understandable....

Alice Q

This is so true. Our parents need to understand us more and let us try things on our own, but we also need to listen to them and see what they think. I think that sometimes our parents don't know what we are going through and they should let us learn for ourselves and be a teenager. Yes, they went through everything we've been through, but we all need to learn for ourselves. This essay is exactly right. I agree with her that we need to have a relationship with our parents. We need to tell them the truth, even though it may be wrong. It's better if we tell them the truth, than lying because one day they might find out and that is even worse.

She was also right that if the teen has no desire then it won't happen. Both the parents and the teen need to have the desire to communicate. It will lead to a better relationship. I should know from experience, because I have an older sister and she and my mom don't get along well. I can see why, because my sister always thinks she is right and at the same time my mom also thinks that she is right. So they have disagreements and don't want to communicate. As for me, I just don't say anything and listen to my mom, well most of the time. I think teens need to know that parents can be understanding. This essay relates to me because it is so true and it will happen. Some may have a good relationship and some may not, but both the parents and the teen must have the desire to communicate and understand each other.

Shirley B.

Older people today should stop and listen to what we teenagers got to say about certain issues. Parents, teachers, and grandparents need to give teenagers a chance to speak about things that we disagree about. ... They don't bother to ask whether or not we think their statement was right or wrong. We never seem to get the chance to speak up about our opinions, thoughts, and feelings. Mrs. Roosevelt completely understood youngsters back then .... However, today's older people have come to ignore what teenagers have to say. I totally agree with Mrs. Roosevelt when she stated that older people need to welcome our ideas and put their minds and concerns towards our opinions. She also stated that young people are totally willing to speak to adults only if they give them a chance to share their inputs on issues. Older people must realize that we teenagers need attention. This means that adults should build better relationships with young adults. They should quit yakking and start listening. They should give us a chance to speak and discuss about what we think is important. Lastly, Mrs. Roosevelt stated that older people should put their minds on the problems of youth, to face realities, to face the world as it is and the lives they have to live. This statement just goes to show how open-minded and understanding Mrs. Roosevelt was. This statement also shows how today's adults have completely changed their attitudes towards teenager's thoughts, opinions, and feelings. Today's adults enforce too much on us, and have completely forgotten about our ideas and feelings. It's gotten to the point where we never speak at all. What has gone wrong with today's adults?

Donna O

I think that education is an important thing today. We are all living in poor economy and some in poverty. We need to get the kids off the streets and start putting education back into society. If there are no education in youth then where will the world end up as? ... Sometimes adults need to help us get that wisdom and guide us along with daily problems. ... Most young kids now are corrupted from pregnancy, drugs, and runaways. Eleanor Roosevelt is right about the most important education is the education which will enable us both in our homes and schools. In school how we learn about many things that apply that in life and home, either its from home ec to shop and even sex education. But I think that adults need to get more on a one and one relationship with the students. We kids also have many problems that we need to face in our daily lives. Like Eleanor Roosevelt said, "We might as well accept things which are facts and not try to imagine that the world is different, more like what we idealized in the past." ... We all just should try and understand each others views and points, from young adults to adults. I think she is somewhat talking to me in our present daily living, but like I said times have changed and so has the society and people. We've got more problems, from poverty to pregnancy and diseases among young adults.

Skye R

I totally agree with her (Eleanor Roosevelt). I feel that if parents, teachers, or just older people that influence kids in any way should try to be open with the kids that they come in contact with. As a younger person I can tell you first hand that all kids could use a few adults to talk to and to be there if we ever needed help. When Mrs. Roosevelt was saying how the mother knew nothing about the daughters and how they really act, I feel that is true in many cases. I know quite a few girls that act totally different in front of their parents and I find it to be a shame because they are unable to be open with their parents. My parents have always been open-minded to what we think or feel, and never laughed at us or scoffed at us. And because of this my siblings and I are able to tell them just about everything and it is easy to talk to them. I also feel that when she said parents lost hold of their kids, I feel it is true as well. Many parents today get lied to and feel like their kids are the best kids. Sometimes the truth can hurt but wouldn't you rather have a loving, truthful relationship with your kids rather than be lied to constantly. I would rather know the truth! I also think kids should be honest with their kids as well not just kids to adults because that would be a form of hypocrisy.

Kristi K.

The piece about Facing the Problems of Youth today by Eleanor Roosevelt is very straight forward. .... One point ... which really sticks out is that how older people experienced for themselves .... We young people would like to live our lives from experiencing many obstacles out there and determining if it's something we would like to be a part of. After all, the childhood years are supposed to be meant for you to get involved and try new things so you would know how it is. Another point Mrs. Roosevelt made is about relationships. Most of us, would like to have a good relationship with our parents so that we would have someone to talk about the things we experience in life. But, if they disagree with all the things we want to do because they have experienced it when they were young and they tell us not to. Then, that's where teenagers feel that they shouldn't have said anything and kept their mouths closed. Not only that, they also tell lies to their parents so that they can go places without parents lecturing or punishing them for going.

Justine P.

As I read the piece written by Eleanor Roosevelt, I didn't quite understand it. When I read it for the second time, I realized what it was saying. In the first paragraph, it mentions that parents have lost their hold on their children. I think that this is very true. Most parents don't care if their children do certain things. And when our parents tell us that what we did was wrong, we ask why. when they say "Because we said so," teenagers want a real explanation. Now days kids are not afraid to talk back to their parents; they speak their mind. In the third paragraph, it states that "if the relationship is such that youth has no desire to talk to older people, then it's entirely impossible to help the youth today." Today we live in a world in which parents don't take time to teach, listen, or even talk to their kids. At the same time, the parents think that schools are teaching them. Parents and their children shouldn't be afraid to talk to each other. I like the last statement she made; it was to face reality. Some parents do not realize certain things that their children go through. Others don't realize that their children are growing up, becoming young adults. Parents need to face the world. They need to let go a little and hope that they have raised their child/children well. Everything that Mrs. Roosevelt mentioned is true in today's world. I'm not sure if this piece makes her become alive, but it certainly made me realize that there is a lot of people in society that need to read this and need to follow it; in the mean time, others that know of this, are leading their lives in a more productive and successful way.

Cari K.

In this essay composed by Eleanor Roosevelt, she states three very significant points. First she recognizes the need of education, mainly for the parents. Secondly, she determines that a healthy relationship between parents and their children is the key factor in being supportive and helpful during tough times. Lastly, Mrs. Roosevelt considers the youth to have beliefs that the world is sometimes harsh and complicated. Because of the corruption in the world, adults should consider the youth's suggestions to make the world a cleaner place. I believe that her first statement is very important. The parents should have knowledge of what their children consider to be important to them and to be understanding when topics of importance are brought up by a child. Another statement made by Mrs. Roosevelt pertaining to the youth and their parents is the fact of a healthy relationship between the two. A strong relationship between parents and their children will help both of them discuss the important issues that are significant in a child's life. They need to be there to help their children through hard times. The bond will help the children be more open-minded and considerate of a parent's comment or advice. The last statement is very true. Mrs. Roosevelt states that the world is a difficult place for the youth. It is also true that the adults should give the problems of the youth as much attention as they give to anything else that is important in their lives. It is important that they make this effort to do good for the youth, because they will be the leaders of the next generation and many to come. Even though this statement was written a while ago, the same principles can still be considered in today's world. These three statements of education, healthy relationships, and the facts of life should be taken seriously by adults and the youth of today.

Karen S. S.

I believe that the problems of youth which Mrs. Roosevelt stated in her article are still valid among youths today some .... In the beginning of her statement she mentions that many parents have lost hold of their children because parents insist on laying down the law without allowing a free intellectual interchange of ideas between themselves and the younger generation. She continues to mention that as we grow older we gain some wisdom, but we can take it for granted that our wisdom will be accepted by the younger generation. I think when children oppose the decisions of their parents or present an alternative way in which to solve a problem it is not because they are rebellious ... because the truth of the matter is that times have changed. Many parents argue that they were once kids themselves and they understand the adversities children face and so they know the best way to handle certain situations. Because times have changed, parents did not experience some of the difficulties children face in today's society and perhaps the way parents dealt with their problems as children may not be the best or most effective for current youth to handle their problems. For example, our parents may have been taught to always obey and to never talk back to their parents because parents are always right and they have the authority over us. If a child is being abused by their parents whether it be physically or emotionally, this child must speak out for their own safety. Today's society preaches that child abuse is unacceptable and if we know of a child that is being abused we must tell someone and help that child. In this sort of situations it is the parents who are the wrongdoers and the child has a right to speak up against their parents. Also, youth today faces more complex situations such as guns in school, inappropriate content on TV, the radio, and the Internet, drugs and alcohol, and many other tribulations. Our parents were not exposed to these kinds of problems at the degree children experience them today therefore it would be false for them to say they know what it is like. Mrs. Roosevelt stated that we cannot pass over the fact that the world is a hard world for youth and that so far we have not really given their problems as much attentions as we should. Children face many problems in society and just because they are young and they have not experienced as many things as adults have, that does not mean that children's problems are insignificant and should be ignored. We must provide children all the proper attention they need in order to prepare themselves for all the trials they will experience throughout life. Mrs. Roosevelt said that the most important education is the education which will enable us, both in our homes and in our school, to understand the real problems that our children have to meet today. It is easy to impart book knowledge, but it is not so easy to build up the relationships between youth and older people which is essential to the working out of their problems. Schools help children to become more knowledgeable in subjects such and science, English, math, and so forth but children also need to be taught that skills that will help them survive the real world such as maintaining a house, handling money, raising a family and so on. Parents have a great influence on their children so they need to listen and communicate to their children in order to give them the best advice for the future.

Janet L.

I agree with Eleanor Roosevelt's opinion about Youth problems. Many teenagers or youth have problems with education, with parents, with friends, etc. They have problems with education when they do not want to study, but just hanging around with their friends. ... Some teenagers are trying their best in school, but still their parents want them to get more higher grades. When students drop their grade a little, their family might angry at them only because they drop a letter grade. Some teenagers have problems with their friends. ... What Eleanor is saying in this line "I believe that as we grow older we gain some wisdom, but I do not believe that we can take it for granted that our wisdom will be accepted by the younger generation", is younger people do not agree with the older people. They want to do things for themselves to prove that older people are not always doing the right things. I think what Eleanor says on this line, "My own feeling would be that the most important education is the education which will enable us, both in our homes and in our schools, to understand the real problems that our children have to meet today", is true. It is true because we learn new things everyday. I also agree with her in this line, "we cannot pass over the fact that the world is a hard world for youth and that so far we have not really give their problems as much attention as we should."

Bernadette D.

From the essay written by Eleanor, the topics which I found true to today is about ... the relationship in which youth has no desire to talk to in elderly person. Parents are the one to be blamed because they are not trying their best to keep their children in control and keep them in school. If we walk around a little town, we will find a lot of young people hanging around the corners doing drug, or even carrying a baby. What happened? The parents weren't trying hard by punishing them not to sneak around but stay in school. The mother who wrote a letter to Eleanor majorly blew her opportunity by lying. If only she would have had an opportunity to put across her own ideas with some kind of hope that they would at least be considered. Again her daughters' behavior are blamed on her because "if we never spoke of certain things in our homes our children would never do those things." With the idea of teenager's not wanting to talk to an older person, then it is impossible to help the youth. In order to help each other, there has to be a respect there.