Gresham’s headteacher’s blog calling millennials ‘entitled, spoilt and molly-coddled’ receives mixed reaction

Douglas Robb, headmaster of Gresham's School, Holt. Picture: SUBMITTED AUG 2015 - School requested this pic used in future. Archant

A blog post written by one of the county’s leading educators referring to the millennial generation as “spoilt, entitled and molly-coddled” has gained a mixed reaction from readers.

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Headteacher of Gresham’s school in Holt, Douglas Robb, made the remarks in his latest blog on the school’s website, prompted by an interview he carried out in which the interviewee asked: “Why should I come and work for you?”

He says that youngsters have a “lack of grit” and “expect to be given a ‘one-in-a-million’ job, despite being one of millions of applicants.”

Many people backed Mr Robb’s ideas, one reader wrote: “Totally agree with Mr Robb, life is not a bed of roses and the sooner the younger generation realise that the more they will achieve.”

Another added: “I completely agree with Mr Robb. I have interviewed young people for jobs myself and the sense of entitlement can be breathtaking at times!”

Rebecca White is the founder of Your Own Place, a social enterprise organisation committed to helping young people in transition, and preventing youth homelessness in Norfolk.

She said: “We’re in the midst of a pendulum swing that I feel is broadly positive. We don’t see young people in this vein at all and very specifically, many of the young people we work with are not entitled - the very opposite. Until 100pc are as he describes - I won’t rest!

“I would see entitled young people as something to celebrate. We see some young people being more aware of their self-worth. A move towards equality means that they should expect to be treated better and ‘not grateful’ for just anything. This must lead to a driving up of standards in many spheres.

“Whilst a challenge for some employers, if it means that employers have to shape up too then that has to be a good thing. If they are to recruit and retain the next generation of amazing young people then change they must. They are lucky to have them and won’t survive without them.”

She added: “If Mr Robb is seeing these things among some young people it’s shame that he has to describe it in a negative way and one that looks backwards - as it’s they have to shift in their behaviour whilst everyone else stands still.”