A music educator is criticizing millennial parents for raising a “hopeless” Gen Alpha, pointing out a range of behavioral issues that could lead to their downfall.
In a 6-minute video, music teacher and TikToker Teresa Kaye Newman (@teresakayenewman) delivers a cautionary message to the parents of Gen Alpha children. She emphasizes the urgent need to acknowledge the significant behavioral challenges exhibited by these young individuals, making it exceedingly difficult to impart any form of education.
Teresa initiates her video by highlighting a substantial concern regarding the approach of Gen Alpha (individuals born between 2010-2025) towards traditional classroom learning. She anticipates potential age-related biases from her TikTok audience, suggesting that younger viewers might better resonate with her observations.
Source: TikTok | @teresakayenewman
The video transitions to another TikToker’s commentary, describing how teachers have labeled Gen Alpha as “defiant, disrespectful, and rude.”
Subsequently, Teresa features a clip of another woman, likely an educator, describing her experience working with Gen Alpha as “the most traumatic experience of [her] life.”
This educator further elaborates on the behavior of this student cohort, stating, “they don’t respect authority, refuse simple instructions, engage in disruptive behavior, and display a lack of basic manners.”
Teresa shares feedback from a third teacher included in her video, who laments that despite teaching “seventh grade,” his students are academically performing at a fourth-grade level.
Following this, a snippet from a 22-year-old middle school teacher is shown criticizing Gen Alpha: “we are doomed. These kids show no interest in learning; their primary focus seems to be seeking thrills.”
Teresa shifts focus to another woman who directs her criticism towards Millennials for their parenting styles, labeling their children as “ill-mannered.” She emphasizes the concerning lack of literacy skills among Gen Alpha children, potentially affecting their ability to read and write.
Subsequently, Teresa reappears on camera to address individuals dismissing her warnings about Gen Alpha as mere products of her age or cynicism. She compares Gen Alpha to Anton Chigurh, illustrating them as a new, challenging breed of students with troubling attitudes towards authority and work ethic.
The music instructor identifies this issue as pervasive, affecting both high-achieving students and those without special educational needs (IEPs).
Source: TikTok | @teresakayenewman
Teresa emphasizes a consensus among educators, spanning both novice and seasoned professionals like herself, regarding the formidable challenge of educating Gen Alpha.
She simplifies the underlying issues and urges parents to pay attention to key areas where their children may be falling short in discipline, academic standards, literacy, and social interaction. Teresa dismisses attributing Gen Alpha’s educational apathy to external factors like COVID, technology, or economic conditions post-2021, insisting that these excuses do not address the fundamental problem.
She refutes accusations of unfairness or blame towards children, emphasizing the crucial role of parents in cultivating self-sufficient and well-adjusted individuals.
Teresa criticizes Gen Alpha’s entitlement, laziness, unpredictability, and disrespect towards authority figures, highlighting the detrimental impact of conditioning them to believe they are immune to consequences.
According to Teresa, educators, particularly vocal critics of Gen Alpha, express genuine concern rather than baseless criticism. She calls upon Millennial parents to confront the reality of the situation and take proactive steps.
Source: TikTok | @teresakayenewman
Rather than deflecting responsibility onto educators or older generations, Teresa urges introspection among parents to address the behavioral challenges within Gen Alpha. She questions why numerous individuals working closely with these children express grave concerns about their future unless significant changes occur.
Teresa finds it futile to discuss solutions when many refuse to acknowledge the severity of Gen Alpha’s behavioral issues, citing their rudeness and defiance as significant obstacles to effective teaching.
Responses to Teresa’s video reveal shared sentiments among viewers, with some recounting personal experiences of Gen Alpha’s negative impact on educational environments.
Source: TikTok | @teresakayenewman
One viewer highlights the restriction on providing constructive criticism to address poor behavior among children, leading to a culture where only positive reinforcement is acceptable.
A parent shares the struggles of their own Gen Alpha child in a classroom environment influenced by peers displaying a lack of respect for authority and disinterest in learning.