In May 1961 Gallup Polls commissioned by Saturday Evening Post conducted a survey. The authors interviewed 3000 youths between the ages of 14 – 22. The survey titled “Attitudes of Young Adults–High School & College students and Non-school Respondents” was later used in December 1961 publication of the Saturday Evening Post, titled, “Youths, The Cool Generation”. They asked each one more than 200 questions. The article as I found on archive.org is summarized below:
The typical youth was a reluctant patriot, who would rather compromise than go to war. They were seen as least likely to rebel in any given circumstance. “He likes himself and he likes the way things are, the United States has bred a generation of nice little boys and girls who are just what we ask them to be and what we so frequently say they are not. They will one day shaped the nation.” (authors notes) However, it was the opinion carried by the survey they conducted that the teens and young adults were not connected to the reality of their world; in effect, ‘have not yet joined the human race’.
Youth Opinions
In an interview of a young man from New Orleans his remarks carried weight. In comparing his parents generation to that or their own his thoughts were to that of necessity. In that the adults had lived through a war and a depression and if they were facing the same necessity, they would respond. He didn’t see individuals making a name for themselves citing the accomplishments of the Lindberghs, but teams of scientist and technicians working together. “We have neither the naivete nor the urgency of our parents. They felt as if they mattered; that they could do something about conditions. We feel that nothing we do will make a difference”. (page 66)
It was an era that the thought of a nuclear war was imminent, ‘but they did not fear it, they somehow feel immortal’. Moreover, they didn’t feel as if it was something that could happen to them. When asked if what they would do in case of war, they thought compromise was the answer to the issue. That this country was built on compromise and compromise would sustain their lifestyle and lessen their losses. When asked about Capitalism verses Communism, ‘9 percent said Capitalism had no advantages over Communism; more than 40 percent could name no advantages’. One 16 year old female, said she didn’t know what Communism is another said that it meant war and because of that she was afraid of Communism. Apparently, no one would explain it to them, what Communism really is … Even though college aged seemed to understand the difference between Capitalism and Communism ‘one third of the group could name no advantages (25 percent) or said there was none (7 percent)’ and, ’44 percent of college males would refuse to compromise’ if there was a threat of war.
In reflecting upon the nation that produced them one college boy told the authors, “America is so great nothing can happen to us”. (page 68)
Opinions on Religion
A Kansas college boy who had tithed since 9th grade said it’s, “because, I’m giving much more from life than I’m giving”. A 19 year old young man who taught a 6th grade Sunday school class, who also worked as a physics technician, an airman second class remarked about religion, “The laws are there and you can’t go wrong with them; it gives you security; it gives life hope and meaning”. (page 68)
The sampling of their survey revealed 74 percent of the youth believed ‘very firmly’ in God. 76 percent thought of God as omnipresent judge who rewards and punishes; 78 percent believed in a hereafter’ two-thirds of the high school believed the Bible is ‘completely true’; 22 percent of the college age believed every word of the Testaments. Nine percent of the college boys and five percent of the college girls said they didn’t believe in God. (page 70) However, they were very critical of the church as an institution.
Frequent criticism includes: failure to explain itself; the sermons were to vague; too ritualistic and mystic, as well as, “the Church was not keeping up with a changing world”. The church didn’t lead people, but merely reflected their values. It was concluded that the youth, wouldn’t desert the church, even though they were disappointed with it. A Midwest boy was quoted as saying, “as long as this country is highly religious as it is, this nation will be okay”.
In terms of morality they rated themselves as moral as their parents; honesty is somewhat coldly weighed in college. One third of the college group said honesty is ‘extremely important’ for success compared to almost two-thirds of high-school age and working youths. (page 74) In addition, one-fourth of the collegians thought honesty as ‘not so important’ for success. They had the highest regard for their teachers and in between the high and low were Congressman, lawyers and corporate executives and themselves.
They had little faith in the integrity of school athletic teams; 44 percent of college males and one-third of high school age believed athletic teams could be met with bribes.
Opinions on Education
Cheating, ‘cribbing’ on exams was more the norm for high school students than college. Three fourths of all youths reported as having cheated. 80 percent of the high school group and 70 percent of college age said, they wouldn’t report it if they saw it and knew about it. In the discussion they simply put that classroom cheating wasn’t dishonest, but a strategy for getting ahead. One high school senior of North Texas said, “the trouble is that kids are lazy and the competition is so great.” Yet, as a young man of Southern Florida put it, “You can be the best educated person in the world, but without a college degree you can’t get a garbage-man’s job.” (page 70)
Nonetheless, they were critical of the education they were getting. Both high school and college thought their classes were too easy. They were demanding in a tougher education with those that thought anyone could graduate high school, even if they didn’t study. The most frequent complaint among high school students were that of the teachers and their seemingly lack of interest in them. Yet, in contradiction to that sentiment, half of the high school youth and three fourths of the college youths said that teachers had a great influence on their lives, mainly with inspiration, goal selection and personality development.
Opinions on Politics
In the beginning of the article the authors reflected on two Miami high school boys who were ‘coldly furious with the state of the Nation’ one bound for a Senate seat and the other the White House. Along with a college boy who made a vocation out of writing letters to his Congressman. However, 83 percent had no intention of entering politics. (page 78)
When the discussion turned to how they would describe the Republican and Democrat Party:
Republicans are “rich men opposing change and bound by the past”, with good manners and socially acceptable. Democrats are, “progressive common men agreeable to change”, who are uncouth and loud-mouthed using Harry Truman as an example. However, among the college group, equate Democrats with intellectuals; the Republican with wealth and materialism. However, 45 percent admit they had no image of either party. 30 percent of males and 19 percent of females admitted their political values reflect that of their parents with the exception of a small number of college youths.
When asked their thoughts on improving the world, they expressed that reform would be better accomplished by improving themselves doing so by “I inform myself” or “understand others”. Someone else, somewhere else can do the hard thinking that is needed. When asked about the Peace Corp 40 percent said they were interested, but only half said they’d serve. (page 78)
Socializing
Most of us know that every generation has it’s own language of their youths. To give an example within the title of this article, the ‘cool’ generation, cool meant ‘excellent or wonderful’. The article expresses that the use of these idioms among the youth as youthese. However, they had other ways of communication, not limited to their expressions in language.
The days the young people across the nation spent in the early 60s in high school wasn’t complete without the celebration of “Queers Day”, always on Thursday and the color of the day was green. Whether it be socks, a sweater, skirt, or a shirt, to not participate one would be ‘twitted’ by their classmates. Parents didn’t know about it, educators didn’t understand it, “It’s just something everybody knows about. It doesn’t mean much”. (page 72) The day may be somewhat regional, because in New Hampshire the day was called, Yellow Thursday and in California if one was caught wearing either yellow or green on Thursday, they would be teased. However, all across the nation it was agreed upon by the high school youth that Thursday was time out day for Queers.
There were other exchanges in communication by the youth, in the refinement of the color of clothing they wore. If a girl in New Hampshire wore blue on Fridays that meant she was pregnant. Wearing red or black in other areas, meant they were a fast pickup. When in discussion about the advertisement of one’s sexuality it was simply put, ‘it’s fun, secret, exciting and it’s defiance, too”. (page 74)
American youth were not only mobile, but they were in great control over their mobility. (page 68) On clear nights, often after a movie at a drive in movie theater, groups of young people would gather together for a sport of street racing. Some in their own cars, others in the cars owned by their parents. Beer consumption was also present at these events, most often held on the back roads of town, with the speed of the vehicles over 100 miles an hour.
Relationships
The typical youth dates once a week, but college girls have twice as many dates as the average American girl. They go to movies, they love to dance, watch television, listen to the radio and talk. They want a potential mate close up or to use their term, to ‘couple-up’. While an essential ingredient of their activities is companionship, not all of them feel the need of peer approval or togetherness as they live their lives.
Many young Americans don’t want to see those in the community who are of the ‘raws of life’. Meaning poor people, beggars or those who are crippled. One young mother told the authors, “they make me feel uncomfortable”. (page 76)
They felt embarrassed by their parents, even though they were fairly close to their parents and 70 percent said they would seek advice from their parents. However, only 41 percent said they’d talk over serious problems with their parents. One youth pointed out that they didn’t really want a solution, but a discussion instead, but their ‘parents seemed to be, too busy.’
Among their complaints included that their parents didn’t act their age; they would exaggerate their accomplishments. They would try too hard to be pleasant and make silly jokes. One college boy said their parents try to act like them and make fools of themselves in the progress.
The youth pointed out they were different from their folks and in essence told the authors why. “Our parents led a different life – they fought a depression and a war. And they’ve protected us. They’ve made sure we had more than they had. We’re pampered.” Another college girl expressed, “of course we’re soft. We got too much, too soon. There isn’t much we want our parents didn’t give us.” A high-school youth of California said, “Goals? We’ve got no goals. Our parents achieved them all for us.”
The authors of the article posed a rhetorical question, ‘In an extraordinary age how will they react when tested?’ A college girl says, “All we need is motive; then you’ll see”. (page 80)