Let Teenagers Try Adulthood Analysis

Leon Botstein the president of Bard College wrote “Let Teenagers Try Adulthood” to educate the general population on how the hierarchy of high school social groups can affect the teacher workplace and the classroom setting as well. Botstein uses the shooters of Columbine High School to show how the social normalities and the social groups can both teachers and students. Botstein states that “ A community's loyalty to the high school system is often based on the extent to which varsity teams succeed. High school administrators and faculty members are often former coaches, and the coaches themselves are placed in a separate. untouchable category”.

The President of Bard College, Leon Botstein, wrote the opinion piece Let Teenagers Try Adulthood (1999), argues that American high schools should be abolished. Botstein uses school cliques and brain development to develop the argument. The author's purpose was to argue that high school are dangerous to kids mental health and the school system should be modified in order to keep children safe from wrong ideas that are often present in high schools. The audience of the opinion article are school officials and people who have the power to change the educational system.

In his essay, The New Liberal Arts, Sanford Ungar addresses common misperceptions related to a liberal arts education. He speaks to their usefulness, the employment opportunities after graduation, their value despite the cost of tuition, and other misconceptions. His overall message is, despite the recent emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and math degrees, as well as technical or vocational training, liberal arts degrees are still important and are a valid option to consider when deciding on your educational future. While his essay could easily apply to anyone with these misperceptions, it appears to be targeted directly towards students in high school or early college who are trying to decided on the direction of their education

the most part. These years in a persons life have often been referred to as emerging adulthood.

The control adolescents express over the choices they make, like the rise and fall of the tide, is fluid and dependant on multiple factors. These factors--biography, biology and current situation--are essential to the adolescent decision-making process as they manage to influence, but not control, the choices we make.

Botstein starts his argument by stating the various parts of the high school experience that are harmful and pointless to students. The first is the “untouchable” category which consists of coaches and high school athletes whose exclusive ranking is based off of the team’s success rather than their own educational achievements. Secondly, Botstein addresses teachers and curriculum that “hold so little sway” over the minds and attitudes of students, since the average student is constantly worried about growing up, popularity, and their friend groups. Next, Botstein claims that the “primary reason” high schools are flawed and broken is that the teens in the twentieth century era are maturing “substantially earlier” than in the past decades. Lastly, Botstein develops a new method for teenager’s education experience by eliminating the 10th through 12th grades, permanently making high school obsolete. If Botstein’s plan is achieved, teenagers will have many different options to choose after their secondary schooling. Students would be able

school as a social club, as a learning institute. Why? Because all they worry about

The trivialization of high school in the present educational organization for teens has been posited in the public; however, it is one vital issue that is being debated.

In ‘Abolish high school’ by Rebecca solnit, she writes “High school is often considered a definitive American experience, in two senses: an experience that nearly everyone shares, and one that can define who you are, for better or worse, for the rest of your life.” which means high school isn’t wonderful for many people, it has a lot of challenges for teens, maybe some of them ‘kill’ by pressure and challenges, it would affect their rest of life. The high school is not a wonderful place for everyone. People should skip it and escaped it that you would don’t be suffered by it. However I disagree with her, because I believe high school is a indispensable place for students. It is a place for students, they can find a great relationship and an unexceptionable place to learn. On the other hand, I believe the high school is the key to definitive teens who they are in an great way. For example, Teachers would shape everyone’s identity, make you strong to face challenges, and open child’s heart. For example, in my childhood, when I lived with my parents, I was happy to learn, because my parents always encourage me to learn. Also, they want me learn from mistake, because It is a way to learn. They want me to be someone. However my parents left me at 12 age, they have to work more hard to support this home. I can’t focus on learning, I was playing video games every day, because I think I was ‘release’ from my parents. I have no ideas about my future. There is no one like my parents to guide me , I feel alone and confuses. Until I was be a part of high school.The high school make me stronger and hopeful. Teachers guide me walk on the right way again, they talk to me about future and how wonderful thing would happen in high school. I

What are the main ideas in each of the two essays? (list 3 for each one)

Sports are healthy and great for a student to be playing and represent the school they go to. Sports are fun and I personally recommend people to play them; however, focus on education first. Most schools use a system where if a student is ineligible if he/she has an E in any class. If they are ineligible then they do not get to play in the sport they are in until the get a passing grade. This is a good system that schools use to make students get a passing grade in order for them to play. However, this system is used all the time with multiple students and its working, but it repeats all the time. Most students just want a passing grade, so if a student goes from an E to a D- it's a good thing, however, it will not make the school rank higher

In the essay "Let Teenagers Try Adulthood", Leon Botstein expresses that the "superficial definitions" of high school students present a reason that they should be allowed to begin their lives in the working world rather than to prolong their education. Botstein is correct in proclaiming that high schools are breeding grounds for "cliques" and "artificial intensity”, and his address of the “flawed institution” of high school is cogent and fitting.

The Grownup is a short story originally written for an anthology called Rogue. This short story revolves around a con woman who makes a living by giving hand jobs to men. After developing carpal tunnel syndrome, she was then promoted to be a psychic whose job is to read people’s aura. In actuality, what she does is telling people what they want to hear based on what she sees in them. That all change until one day there’s a woman named Susan who claims that her house is haunted and there’s something wrong with her stepson. Seeing this as an opportunity to make more money, our con woman agreed to help Susan. She believes that she could trick her way out of Susan’s problem when it turns out that there’s much more mystery behind this haunted house.

As I read the statistics of the causes of crashes and death, I see somethings that are just plain stupid and ridiculous. It is surprising that some of these are even real statistics. Like running off the road is the leading cause of death for teenagers. I find this hard to believe and quite frankly, stupid. I’ve been driving for quite a while now and it’s insane that teenagers can’t stay in their lane because it is not that hard. I think knowing these stats is somewhat pointless because I should be more concerned about my surroundings when I’m behind the steering wheel. Although, I will admit, the statistics are good to know because I can now be sure to pay more attention and avoid being in a similar situations to 30% of killed teens.

They take on with enthusiasm all the ideas that please them, and reject, without thinking, anything that does not”, by this statement, the author claims that teenagers are narrow minded. He implies that teens are not willing to go out of their comfort zone, that they are not willing to try new things, that they have a prejudice mind, therefore a closed mind. I completely disagree with his statement I know many teenagers that are tolerant, they allow others opinions to exist and they are willing to try new things. For example, my friends have different opinions on sports, such as who is the best soccer player in the world. My opinion is different than theirs, but we respect each other’s opinions. Another example is that most of teenager’s