This is a somewhat silly question because you could probably get anecdotal replies of all kinds to it. Some things are different to how they used to be, and in some cases different in ways that feel bad. For example, there are more empty shops in the town centre where I live compared to 20 years ago, which for some people evokes a strong emotional reaction and a sense of loss.
My own personal experience tends to back up what the data here show (no significant changes really) - I teach in a large secondary school and really, kids today are not massively different from how they've ever been. They face challenges in navigating the vast amounts of information and misinformation presented nowadays, but we do try to educate them as best as possible in respect of this.
Appreciate it. Yeah I knew it was a very subjective question. I guess the reason I was shocked was prior I watched British shows like grand design and all I saw was rolling green hills and idyllic life outside the capital. Then in quick succession I watch some YouTubers doing walking tours outside of London and railing against the decline and neglect. So I was just curious what the locals opinion is. That said the same debates are happening here and half the time I feel people are describing different planets.
Yeah I can imagine - although probably in any town you could go out and find a nice bit with nice houses and shops, and equally, you could find a bit where shops are closed and houses look a bit run down.
If I'm honest with you, I wonder if you need to think more critically about what you're watching? Grand Designs is designed to evoke envy (mostly) as well as some of the difficulties involved, which keeps people watching. I don't really watch YouTube but people generally seem more predicated towards watching things that evoke feelings of danger, anger, loss, worry, that sort of thing. In both cases you are being shown a version of the truth that results in the programme maker gaining somehow (money, views, whatever).
I'm only saying this off the back of your few comments here though, so apologies if I'm wide of the mark.
I teach in a UK secondary school; the building with my classroom in was built in the 1960s, as many of them are. Ventilation is poor and after a 60-minute lesson with 25-30 students (age ~15) CO2 will be at 2000-2500 ppm. If there are back-to-back lessons it'll be 3000-3500. I can open some doors, but they lead to connected classrooms so this is only practical if those rooms are not in use. Retro-fitting an AC system is likely possible, but expensive.
Air quality should be a bigger consideration in schools, I bet students will be more attentative and able to focus better without high CO2 levels. We should create the conditions to allow them to succeed.
You might be interested to join the SAMHE project in the UK [1] (that we are part of). It gives free air quality monitors to secondary schools for a large scientific study.
Not this thread's OP but I can answer - I studied CS at uni, graduated in 2006. Worked for 12 months or so, no more than that, in a couple of smaller companies, and it didn't really click (at the time, I found the work uninteresting and couldn't see what progression in said companies would look like). Went into teaching secondary school (UK, ages 11-18) and am still doing just that. As mentioned above, I get to find out about and discuss geeky things with young people with whom I have shared interests (mostly!); on top of this, I get to run extra-curricular activities with them and do things like chess, golf and board games - it is very rewarding, although not really in a financial sense!
0500: Alarm goes off. Read the news for 5-10 minutes.
0510: Out of bed, making coffee.
0515: At my desk, coding one of my side projects or learning something new.
0630: Stop working, make breakfast for my wife, have breakfast with her.
0710: Shower, dress.
0725: Leave for work.
0755: Kids are in the classroom. Pandemonium for the next 6.5 hours. Each day I have two breaks (15 min in the morning and 35-ish minutes for lunch). If it's one of my two weekly plan days, I get another 90 minutes for planning/sitting in meetings.
1425: Dismissal, walk kids to the bus, watch everyone leave/get picked up. Head back to the classroom to cobble together the next day's materials.
1530: Out the door.
I'm applying for software developer positions - as much as I love teaching, I'm glad this will be my last year in the classroom.
When you say "like Detroit" I assume, having never been, that you mean a high crime rate and unemployment rate? You could visit the ONS: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeand... https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotin...
My own personal experience tends to back up what the data here show (no significant changes really) - I teach in a large secondary school and really, kids today are not massively different from how they've ever been. They face challenges in navigating the vast amounts of information and misinformation presented nowadays, but we do try to educate them as best as possible in respect of this.
Cheers and hope this helps.