Socrates lamented the sad state of youth in his day, but even he had a predecessor. Three-hundred years earlier Hesiod had derided young Greeks, saying, “I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on frivolous youth of today…”

Skip nearly 24 centuries ahead to the present and meet Mark Bauerlein, English professor and Director of the Program in Civics and Democracy at Emory University. Bauerlein has written a book called “The Dumbest Generation,” a chilling look at today's youth, the so-called Digital Natives, and a doomsday prognostication for civilization, possibly proving the dictum that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

According to Bauerlein, despite access to the best technology and teaching methodologies, today’s young people do not read, have an unreliable work ethic, and “spend unbelievable amounts of time electronically passing stories, pictures, tunes, and texts back and forth, savoring the thrill of peer attention and dwelling in a world of puerile banter.” He claims that even though the number of students taking Advanced Placement Exams has risen and college attendance is higher than ever, the overall anti-intellectual environment of our young people will keep them trapped in the immediate gratification of selfhood. Visit his website at www.markbauerlein.com to find out more, but keep in mind the words of those ancient Greeks.

On the humorous side of this topic is the new novel, “How to Buy a Love of Reading” by Tanya Egan Gibson. When Carly Wells complains she hates reading, her wealthy parents decide to have an intellectual intervention and hire the help of young novelist Bree McEnroy, author of a failed meta-novel about Odysseus's journey home via the Internet. Bree is supposed to write a novel Carly will love, thereby helping her develop an appreciation for literature. Meanwhile, Carly's would-be boyfriend, Hunter, has fixated on “The Great Gatsby” and is drowning himself in liquor and Vicodin. Through her experience with literature by way of Bree and Hunter, Carly finds the power of stories to either destroy or save us. This cute, fun summer beach novel ends up as smart as we all hope our children will be.

To increase that appreciation for reading in the kids, consider “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine L’Engle. Who can resist a tent in the backyard, a flashlight, and the opening words, “It was a dark and stormy night.” This is “1984” for the tween crowd. For more classic summer reads for young people visit the National Endowment for the Humanities at www.neh.gov/projects/summertimefavorites.

No texting at the table when you serve the following kid friendly foods. Happy reading, happy eating.

Ott’s® Famous Cheesy Sloppy Joes
Ott’s® dressing makes most kids happy, so this will surely be a family favorite.

1 lb. ground beef
3/4 cup Ott’s® Famous Dressing
1/3 teaspoon hickory smoked salt or 1/8 teaspoon Liquid Smoke
1/3 cup jalapeno jack cheese, shredded
3/4 cup water
1 package Sloppy Joes seasoning
3/4 teaspoon crushed cilantro
8 hamburger buns

Brown ground beef in 8 inch skillet over medium heat; drain.
To the pan with beef add water, Ott's® dressing, Sloppy Joe seasoning, hickory flavoring and cilantro.
Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

Add jalapeno cheese, stir well.
Serve on buns with traditional hash brown casserole.


Family Pleasing Hash Brown Casserole

Mix 2 pounds frozen Southern Style hash browns, thawed, with the following:
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 pint sour cream (2 cartons)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/4 onion, chopped fine
2 cup diced Velveeta® cheese

Put mixture in a 9x13 pan.

Mix together the following:
2 cups corn flakes
1/2 cup melted butter
Melt butter and add corn flakes to mix.
Sprinkle topping over potatoes and bake at 350° for 45 minutes.


Corn and Bean Salad

1 can white shoe-peg corn
1 can light red kidney beans
1 can dark red kidney beans
1/2 small red onion - diced small
1/4 each of red, yellow and green peppers
1 bottle seasoned rice vinegar

Dice all vegetables very small.
Drain and rinse beans and corn.
Mix together in a glass bowl; add rice vinegar.
Stir, cover and refrigerate.

This will last in the refrigerator for quite a while, if it doesn’t all get eaten first.


Eagle Brand® Double Delicious Cookie Bars

1/2 cup margarine or butter
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 14 oz. can Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 12 oz. package semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup peanut butter chips

Preheat oven to 350°.
Melt butter or margarine in a 9x13” baking pan.
Sprinkle crumbs evenly over margarine.
Pour Eagle Brand® over crumbs.
Top with chips and press down firmly.

Bake 25 minutes or until lightly browned.
Cool; cut into bars.
Store loosely covered at room temperature.