I’m laughing about how a friend recently had a run-in with a younger person. This younger person expressed doubt that older people could learn new things.
Yes, old people can learn, if they think it’s important. And more than likely, they’re going to tell you right to your face if they think it isn’t.
If for example the older person is a school teacher and she’s being told to learn yet another package of cross-your-fingers curriculum to improve test scores, handed to her by a central office administration that hasn’t even bothered to determine whether or not this newest package is effective…well, the old gal might just tell you – and she likely WILL tell you, because this ain’t her first beauty contest – what she thinks of the new effort.
Can she learn? Most certainly. Will she make the effort? Maybe not.
Rather than throwing up their hands in ageist resignation, today’s employers might find it more effective to demonstrate the value of the new thing to the older workers.
Hey, that sounds familiar. Isn’t that what they’re saying about the millennials?
This is the old saying that “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” It’s completely bogus but still harmful. If people hear this saying over and over, they may believe it or think it could be true. If you doubt whether you can learn something, how well will you do?
Yes, yes, yes. Along those lines, we walk around apologizing for being old, as if being young is a special badge of accomplishment! Thanks for commenting. I hope you will again. After the first time you visit, all subsequent comments appear on the site right away.
Yes,Lynne, I agree. Age does give us the privilege of being as picky as we choose to be. And employers would be smart to listen up to what we have to say. I would have loved to have seen that interaction between your sister and “that kid”.Deb hit it right-spunkiness must be a family trait!
I’m with your sis — that boss needs a reality check! As long as a person is breathing and their brain is alive, then of course they can learn. What kind of narrow-minded world does he live in anyway?! Good for her — I see you both share some of that wonderful spunkiness!