Troubled Teens Resources

Troubled teenagers inspire differing schools of thought when considering what is the most effective ways for educators to circumvent teen age drug abuse, gang participation,irresponsible and destructive behavior. One side advocates a type of coddling approach, positioning out-of-control teens as victims who needs to be understood, not disciplined or punished. The other side advocates for accountability,responsibility,excellence and the discipline required to achieve success in all of those categories.

These two disparate approaches to youth is amply demonstrated in this debate (linked below) between two teachers. DO follow the link and read a very well thought out rebuttal from a teacher advocating education as a discipline to the argument of a teacher who sees schools as a type of nanny. An excerpt of the former view follows.

It’s a tad long for a post but it speaks to the notion that public schools are for education, not rehabilitation and that teachers are to teach, not provide therapy.

“It is precisely a teacher’s love of his subject and his or her earnest enthusiasm, dedication and skill in passing on his or her knowledge of it that is The Life Lesson we take from education.

Mr. Davis: the gruff biology teacher who discerned my interest in biology and spent time teaching me how to set up an aquarium and what to do when my fish had little fishies. He was a biology teacher. He taught biology. I learned about biology from him. We didn’t talk about who he was sleeping with at the time or what he ate for breakfast on any given day.

We were bound by our curiosity, by my desire to learn what he could teach me, and his to teach what he knew. That process, and its outcome, is powerful, Coach. I think–I hope–you know that. When an adult takes the time to share his knowledge with a child who is receptive, what he is showing is respect. What the child learns from this is that when he gives respect, he gets it, and the form that respect takes is sacred: it’s the passing on of knowledge.

I don’t really know what you think is going on when you talk about teaching, Coach, but that’s what I think.”

(Source)