The Dumbest Generation Summary

Mark Bauerlein implies that meaningful connection is important, yet interferes with our education if not handled well, while the myth of Echo and Narcissus states how it is important not to focus on a single connection due to the problems that follow along with it. My position states that meaningful connection is necessary in life, yet needs to be handled well to be effective.

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Mark Bauerlein's “The Dumbest Generation” states that being meaningfully connected is important, yet significantly interferes with our learning. The excerpt explains that we need to tone down our social connections in favour of education in order to excel in life, evident in Bauerlein’s statement, “Kids need a reprieve and retreat. For them to grow up into mindful citizens, and discerning consumers, then, adolescents need to break the social circuit and think beyond the clique and the schoolyard.” Bauerlein also holds the opinion on how “Maturity follows a formula: The more kids contact one another, the less they heed the tutelage of adults. When peer consciousness grows too fixed and firm, the teacher’s voice counts for nothing
Every time he touched his reflection in the water, it disappeared, frustrating Narcissus. Because of this, he could not let go of his reflection and dared not to lose sight of it, resulting in him sacrificing any other connections he held in his life to focus on one connection instead, causing Narcissus to suffer, eventually leading to his tragic death. Such events are evident in the section, “Frightened to touch the water, Narcissus lay still by the pool gazing into the eyes of his vision. He (Narcissus) cried in frustration. As he did so, Echo also cried. He (Narcissus) did not move, he did not eat or drink, he only suffered. As he pined he became gaunt, losing his