Submitted by Carole Mondragon (not verified) on November 27, 2006 - 22:46.
As a Canadian teaching English and Drama in England I'm amazed at the difference in attitudes between Canadian and English kids in government funded schools. While teenagers anywhere can appear apathetic towards learning at times, many here seem downright angry. Several times I've been challenged with verbal attacks such as "What the xxxx are you looking at Miss?" and when I discuss this in the staffroom, fellow teachers tell of being stoned as they walk away from the classroom and others show me their student-inflicted bruises. Adolescent girls often seem more aggressive than boys. When I talk to a girl separately, I perceive a distinct lack of self confidence that the boys don't appear to have to the same degree. Of course we all know that adolescent girls lose their confidence so easily at this stage and often can't seem to get it back. Outside of school I've begun doing work with adolescent and teenage girls to encourage them to reconnect with their tomboy years when they felt equal to boys, if they thought about boys at all, and when their self-confidence was at its peak. I've taken this idea further, working with women of all ages to recall an experience of self-assurance from that pre-adolescent time. I help them connect this positive memory with the person they are now, assist them to write a scene or two and have it performed for them. I'm trying to help them improve self-esteem, re-write their life script. If this seems fluffy I apologize but I believe it's doing some good, absolutely with women but also with adolescent and teenage girls.
As a Canadian teaching
Submitted by Carole Mondragon (not verified) on November 27, 2006 - 22:46.
As a Canadian teaching English and Drama in England I'm amazed at the difference in attitudes between Canadian and English kids in government funded schools. While teenagers anywhere can appear apathetic towards learning at times, many here seem downright angry. Several times I've been challenged with verbal attacks such as "What the xxxx are you looking at Miss?" and when I discuss this in the staffroom, fellow teachers tell of being stoned as they walk away from the classroom and others show me their student-inflicted bruises. Adolescent girls often seem more aggressive than boys. When I talk to a girl separately, I perceive a distinct lack of self confidence that the boys don't appear to have to the same degree. Of course we all know that adolescent girls lose their confidence so easily at this stage and often can't seem to get it back. Outside of school I've begun doing work with adolescent and teenage girls to encourage them to reconnect with their tomboy years when they felt equal to boys, if they thought about boys at all, and when their self-confidence was at its peak. I've taken this idea further, working with women of all ages to recall an experience of self-assurance from that pre-adolescent time. I help them connect this positive memory with the person they are now, assist them to write a scene or two and have it performed for them. I'm trying to help them improve self-esteem, re-write their life script. If this seems fluffy I apologize but I believe it's doing some good, absolutely with women but also with adolescent and teenage girls.