Chapter 8 on Adolescence is a
detailed break down of the significant physical, cognitive, social, and sexual
development that takes between the ages of 8-16 years old. This chapter talks
about the many drastic changes that occur in young adults that can so often be
difficult and cause much uncertainty and questioning.
Working
in a high school, I am able to be an eyewitness of much of these adolescent
developments taking place everyday. I see the freshman boys enter high school
with baby faces and skinny gangly builds. By the time these “boys” return for
their junior year, they have facial hair, their voices are deeper, and their
bodies are gaining significant muscle mass. This is a general observation I
have made of the physical development that takes place in young adolescent
males.
In
terms of cognitive development, the section on adolescent egocentrism really
stood out to me because I direct a choir composed of 34 high school girls.
Adolescent egocentrism is “an adolescent’s tendency to exaggerate the
importance, uniqueness, and severity of their social and emotional experiences.
Their love is greater than anything others have experience. Their suffering is
more painful and unjust than anyone else’s.” (P.192)
This definition could not be any more accurate. On a daily
basis I manage to teach a choir class, while also ducking a dodging the “drama”
of the day. Now adolescent egocentrism is present in both males and females,
however, in a room of 34 high school girls, you really can’t miss it. I may
have a very nonchalant casual tone about this, however, as a male high school
teacher teaching a classroom full of adolescent teen girls I have to be very
careful and mindful of this developmental stage. As humorous this “teen drama”
can be to adults, it is absolutely 100% real to these young people. Adult
figures, such as teachers, who interact with adolescents on a daily basis, must
be aware and sensitive to these things. Improper treatment or attitude towards
these individuals and their situations can have a negative ripple affect on the
adolescent’s development, health, and well-being.
Another
very prevalent development I see taking place among the adolescents in our
school is that of sexual identity. When students enter high school, you see a
few students who have transitioned into having sexual attraction towards those
of the opposite sex or the same sex. However, quickly after starting high
school, you see many “young love” relationships forming before the end of the
first semester. After reading the chapter, I concluded that this rapid change
is caused by a combination of social, biological, and emotional influences.
I
find the adolescent stage of life to be very fascinating. It is a period of
development when children begin the transition into young adulthood. This is a
time where much of an individual’s future foundation is formulated and set.
Each stage of development can be qualified as monumental to one’s future. However,
I believe adolescence to be particularly significant because individuals are
faced with more difficult independent choices and experiences that have consequences
that can greatly impact the rest of their lives.
Your example of the difference between a high school freshman to a high school senior shows the unbelievable amount of development that occurs. It really does put things into perspective when you consider how much physically and emotionally a person can change in just a four year period of time.
ReplyDeletesenor jones,
ReplyDeleteIn your last paragraph you talk about how adolescents are faced with situations that can have a great impact on their life. This is so true, and what happens after i believe has an even bigger impact. Some children have parents that will get them out of trouble, and other children have no parental guidance at all. There are multiple paths a child can go down in their adolescent stage it just depends who is around their life to steer them in the right direct but only the right amount. Some children i feel never learn because their parents are always there to bail them out. Then there is no real lesson. I feel like we, as teachers are that role model, and authority figure in school and thats why we can make a difference right now at this young age when it comes to making decisions in their future.
Working in a high school you definitely have a first hand account of how kids morph from childhood to young adult and adulthood. When I read the chapters this week I thought a lot about that transition as well. As my son's grow, I feel like I never know what changes they have made seemingly overnight. They are going through such a physical change and undoubtedly a mental one as well. I notice that they question things that they never questioned, and definitely argue about everything. I think that it is good to remember that these are just that, changes that they are going through, necessary for development. I think its just as important to remember that as teachers. I can tell how committed you are to your young people through your comments and ability to connect to the processes that their going through.
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