The Next Generation

Yesterday I visited Los Alto High School as a guest during their Writers' Week.  The school recruits local poets, novelists, reporters, and such and sticks us in front of a couple of dozen teenagers to discuss what we do.  I spoke to three classes of freshmen and one of seniors.  I was a little hesitant about discussing murder with 14- and 15-year olds, but I'm sure they see worse on TV all the time.  Their teachers told me how excited they were to have me there.  Y'know, I'll have to take their word for it.  Questions and comments were difficult to squeeze out of them.  I asked one teacher at lunch why none of the girls in her class asked questions.  She said that girls don't want to seem too smart in front of the boys.  Alas!  Still, I'm not saying I didn't get through to them.  The teachers and parents who took me around assured me that all went very well.  I just couldn't tell.  Still having a shot at the readers (and maybe writers) of tomorrow is an opportunity not to be turned down, and, when asked, I said I'd be glad to come back next year.

Comments

[Michael Patrick Leahy]

I saw a clip on TV yesterday about another Harvard type that suggests perhaps the next generation may be much more video oriented than either you or I might hope.

You remember Jim Cramer, the Mad Money guy from CNBC ? He's something of a cult figure now on college campuses around the country.

The reporter asked a bright young Georgetown student why he was a Cramer groupie.

The answer ?

"I would much rather have fun watching Cramer on TV than read."

A harbinger or an outlier ?