Impact of Age-Filter

Cody Meyers

Saint Marys University of Minnesota

Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs

EDUW 695 Ethics

Kathi Stebbins-Hintz, Instructor

August 10, 2016

 There are a number of filters through which an individual may perceive and relate to

the world around him or her. Many times, we do not even realize that we are observing and

reacting based on a particular filter that we have adapted as our own. In the education field,

there are a wide array of people who make up the teaching staff, administration and many

other essential positions. It would be foolish to believe that each individual processed

outside stimuli through the same set of filters. The reality is that there are many different

filters that are constantly activated in day to day social exchanges among co-workers. These

may range from socioeconomic to ethnicity. However, one that particularly stands out is the

age-filter.

The age-filter is comprised of 4 main generations: Silent, Boomers, Gen X, and Net.

The silent generation is made up of individuals of 70 years and above and this group is

characterized to be loyal traditionalist. The next group is the Boomers, who are 50 years and

above. These individuals tend to be optimistic searchers. The following group is Generation

X; they are 33 years and above and are considered to be skeptical synthesizers. Finally, the

Net generation is comprised of people 33 years and under. These people are generally

realistic and complex. Within each group, there are a variety of perspectives ranging from

leadership and authority to relationships, rewards, and community. Due to so many differing

views on so many topics, educators find themselves in the middle of an environment filled

with ideological diversity. As a result, the nature of carrying out collaborative initiatives can

become extremely complex and arduous.

Initially, my perspectives while working with colleagues was guided by my own Net

generation filters. Early on in my teaching career, I acted as my districts EL program

coordinator, and as a result, I had to meet with groups of new and veteran teachers. In these

meetings, I faced many challenges, but age filter was one of the greatest. As a new

educator, I had come out of college with a plethora of new instructional strategies to assist

EL students. I found that younger teachers in the Net and Gen X groups were overall more

willing to listen and implement strategies. However, there were also teachers from both ends

of the spectrum who went against the grain as compared to other members in their
respective cohorts. Unaware of the wide variety of filters funneling my communication with

colleagues, I still managed to build bridges with co-workers by listening to where they were

coming from. My main objective was to first build a trusting relationship with my colleagues,

and then demonstrate my knowledge and skills. It was after having built a relationship and

proving myself that I experienced most success when promoting the incorporation of EL

strategies. I think having a basic understanding of where people are coming from is a great

asset. However, Ive learned that not everyone shares the ideological characteristics of

his/her age generation. Therefore, I think it is most important to understand how to listen to

others concerns while at the same time explaining my own perspectives in a calm, yet

confident demeanor.

In the future, my knowledge of the age-filter characteristics will assist me in my

decision-making. Im a member of various committees in my new school district. Therefore, I

am involved in initiatives with colleagues from all over the spectrum. Knowing that there are

different mentalities associated with specific topics like evaluation, training, feedback styles,

etc., it will help me to have a more well-rounded understanding of the discussion at hand. I

think this is a vital skill not only for teachers working together or with students, but also for

administrators. Eventually, I plan to pursue an administrators license and become a

program director or principal. In any leadership role, the ability to open ones mind to all

perspectives and ideas is critical. By being able to identify different opinions and include

them within daily decision-making processes an administrator can ensure that all voices are

heard, thus bringing staff together and creating a more positive working environment. I know

I have a long way to go, but my study of the age-filter will help advance my position to

eventually becoming a great leader in education.