writes the principal of the upper school in an email to her faculty / Fwd: [New Post] Four Messages Your Freshmen Need to Hear This Year / because she thought it had some good insight / which began by comparing this generation of adolescents to past generations / who have endured Great Depressions, pandemics, and World Wars / these four messages will help students change their internal narrative / from the author who runs a for-profit leadership company / his website lists his speaking fees / promises higher grades / catchy phrases include empathy for effort / attitude not aptitude / agile rather than fragile / flourish over flounder

// A veteran teacher notices / this article ignores the fact that these teens developed in the midst of national trauma / post Great Depression teens saw hope for a future / post WWII teens saw potential for prosperity / this teacher's students see climate change / war / more school loans / more pandemic grief / toxic Capitalism / anxiety / this teacher sees adolescents forced to attend school in person in the midst of the most contagious strain / safety measures blocked by state governments / endless changes / how can students be expected to suck it up and be positive this teacher wonders / how can empathy be transactional / when will adults admit we are fragile //