Round 2 research question: How does the current state of the economy extend the pressure put on students to achieve high grades, get a decent job, and just make money to enough to survive? Is capitalism to blame?
There is no question that kids and teens of today face immense pressures to achieve high grades. Whether reinforced by their parents, peers, or social media, it is difficult to gauge just how much pressure they are able to endure before cracking under the stress and dissatisfaction unrealistic standards may impose. This research round aims to explore capitalisms wrath in creating an all or nothing mindset surrounding grades for the youth of today, fostering an unhealthy relationship with school and labour as a whole.
Grade inflation has gotten out of control at many secondary schools across the globe (1). This creates an environment where a student receives a higher grade than they really should be getting, despite their lack of effort and poor attitude towards the teacher and material (1). As a consequence, the value of grades has become distorted, not only making it more difficult to meet the standards for university, but employers become easily mislead by the facade of a too-good-to-be-true grade (1). Further, this increases the pressure on the student to achieve higher and higher grades to stand out in this ever-competitive job market (1). It also plays into the fact that this kind of narrative is incredibly stressful on the student, as they may feel obligated to meet these unrealistic standards, damaging their physical and mental health in the process (1).
Despite some positive advancement in the teen employment scene, many teenagers find obtaining a part-time job incredibly difficult (2). There is often a stark mismatch between the qualifications students have acquired and the demands of the current job market (2). This innadequacy often leads to students feeling that they need to get better and better grades to stand out amongst the crowd of other qualified candidates (2). It even exists among graduates, as a degree or other academic qualification is often not enough to cut it without experience, connections, and the ability to effectively communicate (2). Improving employability remains a looming stressor among students aiming to seek out a career that combines immense satisfaction with fair compensation to make it in this economy (2).
Economic outcomes among graduates vary immensely in accordance with the level of education one has obtained (3). Those without a college degree face difficulty finding a stable job in the workforce, prompting more and more youth of today to take secondary school that much more seriously (3). The rising cost of living and seemingly-stagnant wages have created the environment where it is deemed necessary to achieve the highest grades possible to continue education and barely make it in this economy (3). Additionally, economic instability caused by factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic has made this fact of life all the more essential if one wishes to attain financial stability in the future (3). This entire nuanced situation adds to the already tremendous load that teenagers of today are faced with, potentially burdening their futures if they choose not to take action now (3).
Financial implications are even being felt through post secondary institutions in having to cut programs and funding due to financial disparages that have come along with the pandemic (4). This instability further adds onto the narrative that students need to do well to receive financial scholarships and bursaries in the event that they are unable to be eligible to the program otherwise (4). Rising costs of tuition and other life necessities also feeds into this being important; seemingly one unfortunate pillar being added atop another (4). Consequently, performing phenomenally at school can secure a spot at a top institution with the financial aids to get through it smoothly (4). The looming uncertainty that surrounds the financial stability of getting through post-secondary, as well as attaining a feasible position in the job market thereafter all weigh heavily on the minds of the young who just want to do well to live happy lives (4).
Some may argue that capitalism places an inherent pressure on the teens of today to succeed at school (5). The need to produce workers who are compliant, generously take orders, and contribute to the monetary hierarchy of society has long been deemed as important (5). The system as a whole often prioritizes profit over the health and well-being of its citizens, often leading to unnecessary amounts of stress placed on its citizens in the name of productivity (5). Students are pressured to succeed in order to secure their fate in this capitalistic-normative society (5). The ever-increasing emphasis on individual achievement often undermines the natural, yet important holistic approach to working in team settings (5).
The concept of meritocracy in education is to blame for the educational strife many are facing, and failure of a system with the refusal to change (6). This system supports capitalistic structure, and capitalistic structure only, perpetuating a toxic mindset that looms around individual success and competitiveness (6). Students are often made to feel that their success of failure is entirely on them, ignoring the systemic issues that placing a certain standard on our youth may have (6). This belief can lead to increased stress and anxiety as students internalize their very normal mistakes for character flaws, immediately hurting their self-esteem (6). The meritocratic ideal also reinforces the message that ‘only the best can succeed,’ scaring the wannabe educated for intrinsic purposes into needing to pursue something that is deemed ‘impressive’ and ‘worthy’ (6).
All in all, today’s economy and society as a whole places these unrealistic pressures on the youth of today. The negative health implications that this toxic stress has taken on this generation is yet to be felt, but in the end, will prove to be worse than the prospect of maintaining average class standings without the looming stress. Together, we need to take action to end the toxic hustle culture narrative, infiltrating our youth, and diverting their potential into employable means for the top few percent.
References
- ‘Grade Inflation: Why It Matters and How to Stop It’. The Thomas B. Fordham Institute, https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/commentary/grade-inflation-why-it-matters-and-how-stop-it. Accessed 11 Dec. 2024.
- https://www.weforum.org/stories/2024/08/global-youth-employment-future-jobs/
- Parker, Richard Fry, Dana Braga and Kim. ‘1. Labor Market and Economic Trends for Young Adults’. Pew Research Center, 23 May 2024, https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2024/05/23/labor-market-and-economic-trends-for-young-adults/.
- ‘Higher Education Is Struggling. Psychologists Are Navigating Its Uncertain Future’. Https://Www.Apa.Org, https://www.apa.org/monitor/2024/01/trends-higher-education-challenges. Accessed 11 Dec. 2024.
- How Capitalism Undermines Progressive Education Reform. https://jacobin.com/2021/06/schooling-in-capitalist-america-progressive-education-reform. Accessed 11 Dec. 2024.
- Wolff, Richard D. ‘Grades Are Capitalism in Action. Let’s Get Them Out of Our Schools.’ Truthout, 5 Aug. 2019, https://truthout.org/articles/grades-are-capitalism-in-action-lets-get-them-out-of-our-schools/.
