I’m a member of the Silent Generation, (1927-1945), a slice of history sandwiched between the Great Generation (1901-1926), and the Baby Boomers, (1946-1964).

A 1951 essay in Time magazine coined people in the 1927-1945 age group as the Silent Generation because they were more cautious than their parents. They were labeled as a “small flame” generation in comparison with the flaming youth of the previous generation.

Members of this generation are also called traditionalists or conformists; they sought stability, worked hard, and thrived by not rocking the boat in an era of postwar economic stability and prosperity. The Silent Generation began life in some of the most difficult situations, including the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and economic and political uncertainty. The circumstances surrounding their upbringing led many of this generation to adopt a cautious, conscientious behavior.

Who are members of the Silent Generation? The oldest members of this generation were born at the beginning of the Great Depression. They were also children of WWII, and came of age during the 50’s and 60’s. Characteristics of the Silent Generation include: thriftiness, respectfulness, loyalty, determination, financial prudence, interpersonal respect, resiliency, dedication, and a positive work ethic. The Silent Generation helped shape 20th century pop culture with pioneering rock musicians, iconic filmmakers, radio and television legends, and groundbreaking political satirists. Many of us still living look at this generation as one of the best, and one that future generations would have difficulty matching. We got to experience it all, including hard times, war, societal lessons, and innovative technology.

Firmly etched in my memory banks of this generation include the following:
• The first hopeful drumbeats of a civil rights movement.
• A handshake to seal a deal was assurance that it would never be broken.
• Workers pledged loyalty to the employer. Once you got a job, you generally kept it for life.
• There were no Playstations, Nintendo, Xboxes, video games, DVDs, personal computers, digital wallets, smart phones, iPads, 150 cable television channels, internet or emails, and no chat stations. We managed to find other engaging indoor and outdoor activities to entertain ourselves.
• We got spankings with wooden spoons, switches, ping-pong paddles, or just a bare hand. Some of us were grounded for week or so for misbehaving. Nobody called authorities to report discipline abuse.
• Teachers ruled classrooms with an ironclad authority. If you stepped out of line, your parents heard about it, or you were sent to the principal’s office for punishment. The idea of parents bailing us out if we misbehaved was unheard of. Passing notes, chewing gum, or sticking your gum wad to the bottom of the desk were no-nos. Some of us misbehavers were sent to the classroom corner to sit on a stool wearing a pointed hat for a period of time. Lawsuits from parents against teachers who disciplined students were unheard of.
• We spent lots of time outdoors playing sandlot baseball, shooting BB guns, climbing trees, riding horses, riding bikes, swimming, ice and roller skating, playing hopscotch and marble games, going to Saturday matinee movies to watch a double feature, cartoons, and WWII events, all for a 10 cent theater ticket. We listened on the radio to Jack Benny, The Green Hornet and The Shadow, WWII news, and sporting events with Babe Ruth, Joe Louis, Don Hudson, Jessie Owens, and Dizzy Dean. We spent a lot of time socializing, and making new friends.
• During the Great Depression days, we ate what was served on our dinner plate, and if not, it went into the fridge, and was served at the next meal.
• Riding in a car’s rumble seat was a special treat. The early cars had no seat belts, no air bags, booster seats, or automatic transmissions.
• We were patriotic, as was well demonstrated during WWII; we stood tall, ready to serve our country when so called. Surviving members of this generation are now in their 80’s and 90’s.
• The Social Security Act was passed into law in 1935, the same year the Richter earthquake scale was developed.
• Thanks to FDR’S Rural Electrification Act of 1936, wheels were set in motion that would bring electric power to rural Montana and other parts of the West.
• We were taught to show respect to others by practicing courtesy and deference to authority; a sense of civic values, and understanding the value of hard work, which promoted productivity and quality work.

WELCOME TO TODAY’S ALPHA GENERATION
   
The Silent Generation was followed by the following generations: Baby Boomers, X, Millennials, Z, and today’s Alpha (2010-2024) generation, which is providing advanced digital technological information ranging from A to Z, a click away on the computer, viewed from computer screens. The Greek description of Alpha refers to “The start of something new, not a return to the old.” Establishing when one generation ends and another begins is not an exact science, but it is a way of understanding how global events and technological, political, economic, and social changes determine the way a set of people see and react in the world. Experts point out that the time between one generation and the next is shrinking because of the rapid changes the world is undergoing as a result of digital transformation. Statisticians tell us that there are 2.8 million humans born globally every week. At the end of this generation year, Alpha will be the largest the world has ever seen, numbering more than two billion, the largest generation in history!

Members of the Alpha generation were the first to have grown up in a world that encapsulates high tech savviness, and one which has instilled a sense of innovation and a willingness to take risks and not being afraid to challenge the status quo. As reported by the Pew Research Center, “It (the Alpha Generation) is a way of understanding how global events and technological, economic and social changes interact to define the way a set of people see the world.” Members of this generation are digital natives, growing up with this new technology like a second language. To their credit, some of the Alpha clan have developed an environmental consciousness, pressing for environmental changes, especially with regard to climate change and its adverse effects on world-wide ecosystems.

With the rapid evolution of technology and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), continuous acquisition of skills is no longer just an aspiration. In a world where skills are ever-evolving and can rapidly become obsolete, continuous learning is a necessity, and a high priority. Without question, it’s the currency of the future. AI, virtual reality, and augmented reality will assuredly shape the future of learning and assessment.

While systemic political and economic barriers to higher education and professional development certainly exist in today’s world, innovative solutions can boost upskilling and reskilling. The Alpha generation that succeeded Gen Z is one that interacts in a completely new way, thanks to new technologies. Their voice and actions will shape our future, and they, hopefully, will live up to their name, Alpha, and not return to the old, but will start something new.

                                     
CHALLENGES FOR GENERATION ALPHA

Alpha generation children were born at a time when technological devices were providing many positive advances, allowing us to be hyper-connected and become experts in the use of new technologies that opened up a wide range of creative achievements, ranging from advanced space explorations to innovative medical advances. The following are a few negative snapshot consequences associated with this generation:

• Reduced attention span and concentration as a result of numerous new digital technologies to navigate.
• A failure, despite the numerous red flag warnings of climate scientists, to address and provide creative solutions for addressing and taking responsibility for world-wide climate and environmental changes, and the environmental wreckage we are leaving in our wake.
• Less time for socializing, in comparison with past generations, as a result of spending much of the day online.
• A continuing underlying issue remains—whether people with different social and racial backgrounds and interests can work well enough with one another to create a better level of coexistence with environmental and political discord issues.
• Increased incidents of gun violence and illegal drugs of the Alphas, resulting in numerous deaths and victim injuries in school systems and numerous other localities, and a failure of society to provide adequate solutions to address these problems.
• A notable lack of discipline in schools and at home. Many children in today’s society are acting in rude, aggressive, disrespectful, and defiant ways.

Alpha generation members, as mentioned, are currently identified as a generation profoundly marked by new technologies. They are living in a society which faces an uncertain future of political discord, economic disruptions, climate change, pending and current global wars, depletion of natural resources, and future pandemics. How this current generation and future generations will navigate these uncharted waters for a transition to a more sustainable planet Earth remains as one of the leading question of today.

In reference to Montana, former Montana legislator Dorothy Bradley wrote in her recent Bozeman Chronicle article, The Lost Lesson of Stewardship: “We who are among the fortunate to live here must shoulder the responsibility to protect the last of this unique ecosystem, not just for us, but for the whole country, and for the future, and all this in the face of climate change.” Bradley’s assessments represent the environmental savviness needed for tomorrow. Now is the time to recognize the need for change in our activities, to embrace a mindset shift, and to support a more holistic, accessible journey for future generations.