
When recapping past protests and forecasting future protests we should include the influences generated by low educational levels among an electorate. If we do not learn about any topic, subject or issue, it is impossible to participate in its discussion and certainly to influence its outcome. As a result life in this area passes us by leaving us frustrated and angry.
Lack of education influences the electorate's understanding of the political science model which is not easy to understand especially knowing and navigating the process when choosing an elected official. Lack of education also influences our ability to analyze issues, rank issues in their order of importance such as climate change, unemployment, minimum wages and cost of living issues. Foreign policy issues are even more complicated and low information voters struggle even more with assimilating foreign policy issues.
Because the United States globally ranks in the middle of the pack educationally many in our electorate have not been able to grasp the gravity of salient issues, engage critical thinking required, followed by the corrsponding political behavior designed to achieve the desired outcomes during an election, they have become frustrated even angry and have found visceral protesting the only default reaction.
Lack of education has also influenced the financial growth of the electorate, in part has stopped social mobility, limited financial growth, limited the ability to own a home, compete for high paying jobs, how to start a business, how to save or invest and how to adopt good behaviors that make us physically and mentally healthy.
There has been small improvements in the educational performance level for the United States but we are still lagging behind. Until we come up to par educationally the younger millennials Generation Z, born 1995 - 2009 will struggle to figure out what is transpiring politically and will probably default to protests and visceral responses. The older millennials Generation Y, born 1980 - 1994 on the other hand are very educated and are doing fine, very impressive, understanding global and domestic issues, having full understanding of both domestic and foreign policy and how each applies to them.
According to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Generation Alpha, born 2010 - 2025 as a generational cohort to date has given ample reasons for concern regarding international STEAM ranking globally. A recent Pew Research Center report, indicates only 29% of Americans considered their local K-12 education adequate in the areas of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. A supporting survey administered by the American Association for Advancement indicates that only 16% of the U.S.'s K-12 STEAM education was above average while 46%, in contrast was below average.
According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress - NAEP 4th and 8th graders were ranked below the middle of the pack globally in the subjects of math and science. These generational cohorts especially younger millennials and generation alfa, are most likely to use protesting as their primary option in political behavior until we can raise the educational level among these generational cohorts.
Finally, other influencers that mitigate protesting are informal education or socialization that comes from functional families and interventions by functional faith-based mechanisms.
Definitions of Generation Cohorts are as follows:
G.I Generation: born 1914 - 1927 - they are disciplined, respect law and order and they like consistency, they dislike change, have fixed views on gender, like command and control management style in leaders.
Builders or the Silent Generation: born 1928 - 1945 - They highly value security, comfort, familiar activities and environments. They possess the best work and education opportunities because of the post-war economic boom.
Baby Boomers: born 1946 - 1964 - This cohort group is the largest population of any generation. When younger they were open-minded and rebellious but evolved into being conservative in their 30’s and 40’s. Status and social standing are important to this cohort. They are optimistic, ambitious, very loyal and possess an 'employment is for life' attitude. Are “workaholics.”
Generation X: born 1965 - 1979 - Saw both parents working, sent to daycare, saw parents divorce, “latchkey kids”. Well-educated having secondary and tertiary qualifications resourceful, individualistic, self reliant with low trust of authority. Contrary to Baby Boomers not interested in employment for life. When at work focused on relationships, outcomes, their rights and skills. Will leave a job if they are unhappy.
Generation Y: born 1980 - 1994 also known as Millennials - Millennials are very good with technology comfortable in diverse ethnic groups. Similar to GI Generation in the areas of optimism, confidence, sociable, strong morals and like civic duty. They aren't loyal to any specific brand. They expect a professional workplace demand flexibility and will change employers for promotional opportunities more frequently than Gen Xers.
Generation Z: born 1995 - 2009 - also known as the Younger Millennials - Cannot conceive life without the internet, computers and mobile phones. Communication is mainly through online communities and social media such as Google, My Space, Twitter and Face Book rather than face to face relationships. Ability to belong to huge social media communities without knowing anyone personally. Public speaking not their preference. An easy method to memorize the millennial generations is to remember the series x,y,z together with generations y and z being the older and younger millennials respectively.
Generation Alpha: born 2010 - 2025 - sociologists exhausted the Latin terms and have switched to the Greek alphabet. Will begin school earlier and study longer, prone to being materialistic and techno-centric.Sociologists started over with the greek alphabet after reaching generation Z in order to clearly identify the new generational cohort groups.