Though it probably wasn't intentional, I actually found it really funny to see how well the article on puberty proved its own point. Puberty is hard for American parents to talk about, to be sure; a great example of that is given in the chapter, where the author "explains" puberty by discussing the biological changes involved in painstaking detail - for pages upon pages upon pages. It may as well have been lifted from a biology textbook, providing very little practical information for the casual reader.
Meanwhile, on the emotional side of things, much time is spent discussing the problems adolescents have because of poor teaching, but relatively little is spent discussing the problems they would have otherwise. Thus it's implying that poor teaching is the main problem they experience - that biology-textbook speeches or puritanical sermons are all adolescents get.
What would happen if better teaching was given is never really said. Perhaps we simply don't know enough at this point to make a prediction.
I definitely felt the same way. There was a whole lot of cow and very little meat in this chapter. I ended up skimming much of the psychological aspects of puberty because I was A. not going to retain any of the information I was reading, and B. in need of a semester-long intensive course in adolescent psychology in order to take anything meaningful away from these sections.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, the parts concerning more general pubescent development were slightly more interesting but provided little that most people who've been through the process don't already know. I was disturbed by how drastically little information these researchers must have in the fact that the author cited the findings on some dancers going through puberty SEVERAL times. These "dancer statistics" represented a group very different from the norm in their advanced athletic ability and non-varying body type--ultimately, not the typical pre-teen/teen. That the findings of this study should consume so much of the information presented in the chapter was proof to me of your point that we know very little about this mysterious process of puberty.
I posted comments along the same lines as you did. I feel a more open, respectful discussion/teaching method would benefit the students who are experiencing these changes. Having discussion and answering embarrassing questions just might take some of the awkwardness and embarrassment out of puberty and make going through these changes a little easier, both mentally and socially for the students.
ReplyDelete