The Theme of Adolescence - Essay Example

Some perceptions that teachers and principals have about teenage behavior are false. Divorce, advancing technology, or a generation gap does not make teens act fearful, vainly, or irresponsibly. This is part of a rite of passage into adulthood that all humans must go through. Teens have not lost their minds, they are acting out naturally. Teachers and educators must realize that these themes are a fact. Instead of trying to make teens conform and think like adults, teachers need to reach out to teens on their level. Instead of disregarding fears, teachers need to come down on a teen’s level to counsel a teen effectively. For example, a teen girl comes to an educator with the confession that she is being abused physically by a boyfriend. It is really easy to say ‘leave him’. However, most adult women cannot leave an abuser. The teacher needs not only to speak with the teen, but recommend a counselor. Most teachers will go straight to the parents or the cops. This causes more problems for the teen. Teens need to be taught how to control their fear. Maybe peer counseling or a teacher can share past experiences as a teen. The most important factor would be to understand the teen’s fear and not dismiss it.

Another strong theme was about good teachers and not seeing enthusiasm for a subject. Teachers do get tired of teaching the same subject over and over. The same curriculum is used year after year, with a few changes like new books. Teachers must love the subject they are teaching, or they would not have majored in it. Instead of teaching the same curriculum over and over, teachers might try to change their schedules, activities, or assignments within the curriculum. For example, a history teacher could have used the 2008 election for exciting lessons on Civil Rights, Susan B. Anthony, Vietnam, World War I and II (McCain’s father and grandfather), Africa, Kenya (Obama’s father), and other subjects. The options are endless. Math teachers could have used the election for percentages. By getting excited about current events, teachers could become excited as well as students.

Another teaching option would be to teach on a teenage level. Teenagers love music. A history class could associate rock music songs with Vietnam. Genealogy could be used with this method as well. For example, a famous rock star is related to George Washington. System of a Down, a popular rock band, descended from refugees from the Armenian holocaust in Turkey. This type of teaching would force the teacher to research and continue their learning as well. It would translate into the classroom. Another example of teaching on a teenage level would be clothing prices in math. Tax and purchase can be translated into problems. For example, if one had X amount of shirts at $22 that equals $220 how many shirts does one have? The possibilities are endless.

Middle school adolescents are different from high school, but the same teaching methods apply. Reaching a child on their level, and understanding their fears and point of view are key to helping them get through adolescence. Instead of dismissing fears, concerns, wants, or needs, educators need to reach out and understand better. More studies like this one should be conducted to better understand how to help teens. It is a matter of not treating teenagers like adults, but realizing that educators need to help teenagers become adults. To accomplish this, educators must understand teens, not make them conform.