In light of my recent posts on self-reliance and individualism (1, 2) I came across a very interesting editorial in Newsweek that asks the question, “Why Are Teenagers Growing Up So Slowly Today?”
The article mentions author Dr. Joe Allen, who says today’s children aren’t growing up because adults simply don’t let them. In his troubling book Escaping the Endless Adolescence, he shows how modern culture has shun children away from real life.
Long ago we as a society decided that children should be in school for at least 13 years before they can display any sense of competency in the world. Allen writes:
“We place kids in schools together with hundreds, sometimes thousands, of other kids typically from similar economic and cultural backgrounds. We group them all within a year or so of one another in age. We equip them with similar gadgets, expose them to the same TV shows, lessons, and sports. We ask them all to take almost the exact same courses and do the exact same work and be graded relative to one another. We give them only a handful of ways in which they can meaningfully demonstrate their competencies. And then we’re surprised they have some difficulty establishing a sense of their own individuality.”
I think Allen would agree with me that modern society has reinforced a culture of dependency. Nowadays we look around and see child-minded young adults in their early 20s, early 30s; in fact, some don’t ever seem to grow up.
Some of the most common excuses we hear are that “teenager’s brains aren’t developed enough,” or “our world is more complex now, so we need more education.” While it may be true that teenager’s brains aren’t fully developed or that our world is more complex, what better way to learn than to step outside of the classroom and embrace this complex world head first (especially while our brains are most ready to learn).
As I mentioned before, many of my posts on this blog already address these issues and draw upon my own personal battles with formal education. In many ways this blog is a reaction to that whole culture. However, I want to hear your guys opinions:
- What are your experiences with the current education system?
- Can you name any particular instances where you felt your individuality was being suppressed?
- If you could, how would you reform education in today’s society?
I also encourage discussion of this post over at Evolver.net.
As for me, I used to feel that my life runs very slowly. But as I grow up (I'm 17 now) I feel like time past so fast. Last year 2010 felt like a totally wasted year, it went so fast with so many things went wrong. But I never regret things I have done.
* What are your experiences with the current education system?
With the country I live in now, I really don't like the education here. It's sometimes like a discrimination when certain religion education are more emphasized, while others are left out/rejected. The system seems so outdated, and the use of ICT in education in my country is lacking.
* Can you name any particular instances where you felt your individuality was being suppressed?
I am not so sure by what this means. But, now, I am a prefect in high school, and this is my last year. Once last year, I was blamed for doing something with a girl in the music room of my school, but the fact is, I didn't do anything. At that time, I really did feel that my rank as a prefect was pressed, and also I thought I was going to get fired. It was a very tensed time. But luckily, things went a bit well, and that issue dissolved into air. But to me, the effect is still there, and I will never forget that incident.
* If you could, how would you reform education in today’s society?
If I was like the minister of education, surely I would fully emphasize the usage of ICT. Students should at least be given a netbook, and teachers should use all online resources available. Also, the "study at home" concept can be fully put to use if online teaching is pressed.
I really, put some thoughts into this comment, sometimes I really think back about my life, and this is what I get… You know, like some emotion overcoming me.. But thats okay xD
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The education system is built on traditional and myth — not science. If you truly want someone to learn, and succeed on their own, you'd certainly spend less time shoving down useless information, that they neither need nor care about, and start teaching them skills specific for 1. Living on their own (shopping, cooking, time management, social skills) 2. Job specific training (co-op/interning, mentoring, etc.).
I don't necessarily see a problem with having a longer adolescence. In many cultures, it is normal for the children to live at home and be taken care of by their parents until they are married. Although, they are often expected to pursue a higher education and/or work.
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I tend to agree with Dr. Joe Allen that teenagers today are somewhat caught in an endless adolescence. But I think the reasons for this are quite multifaceted and for sure this tendency is more prevalent in western culture. In our efforts to protect our children (a good thing), we have sometimes made them so aware of their rights that as they grow up, many (not all) are very selective of what they want to do. It’s not unusual to hear ”I’m not doing that and you can’t make me!”. I’m not really sure what the answer is but I certainly applaud any young person with a healthy self-esteem who has figured out that there is much to learn outside the formal classroom and that learning is a lifelong journey