The complaints noted below by Fra Bartholomew Anglicus, an English Franciscan of the thirteenth century, about the children of his time might well be written today.
Some children . . . lead their lives without thought and care. And set their courages only of mirth and liking, and dread no perils more than beating with a rod. .. . When they be praised, or shamed, or blamed, they set little thereby. . . Since all children be tatched [sic] with evil manners, and think only on things that be, and reck [sic] not of things that shall be, they love plays, games, and vanity. . . . And things most worthy they repute least worthy, and least worthy most worthy. .. . And the goodness that is done for them, they let it pass out of mind. They desire all things they see. . . - They love talking and counsel of such children as they be, and void company of old men. They keep no counsel, but they tell all that they hear or see.