"SENSITIVE AGE: Educational institutions can effectively handle teenagers if they are aware and well-informed about teen activities and issues."
Being a teenager in the second millennium is more colourful, exciting, confusing, and challenging, all at the same time.
This tension is most apparent during the transition from school to college. The tension arises out of the same things that are exciting to a teen, such as new relationships, expressing oneself through the way they dress, the music they listen to, the places they frequent, etc.
The big question for college/universities then becomes: how can an educational institution support the teenager in dealing with these tensions, and keep her/him safe, and get her/him ready to go out into the real world?
In Bangalore, as also in India at large, colleges have gone one of two ways: The first kind of college maintains a structure, which is more or less similar to that of schools. An example of this is National College. Other colleges maintain a structure less rigid than that of schools. An example is St. Joseph's.
The conservative school of thought holds that fashion, relationships etc. are things that distract a student from gaining the best education. To help the students gain the best education, the college will set restrictions on things that can become possible distractions such as dress and seating arrangement.
Institutions with less rigid structure from one of two perspectives, either that it is not the role of an educational institution to have a say in other aspects of a student's life beside academics, or that education is in the classroom and beyond, and it is important that students be allowed to express themselves while in college so that by the time they graduate from that institution they are well prepared for the world.
There is no debate that all the above-mentioned perspectives are valid in their own right, and what is more important is that whatever the structure, it has to be consistent, caring, nurturing and responsive. Colleges and educational institutions will do far better by being aware and informed of teen activities and issues.
Some tips to stay informed and nurture the next generation:
Stay involved — as teachers, academics and administrators, make an attempt to know what your students are doing in their spare time. Find out what interests them, may be you will learn something new that interests you as well.
Remember to listen. The best ways to learn about the issues that teenagers are dealing with is to keep discussion open and to listen to what they have to say. Avoid the 2 `p' s — patronising and preaching — when talking to teens (Amy Fackler, 2004).
Don't jump to conclusions — just because a student is comfortable talking about a topic such as drugs, sex, alcohol, etc. does not mean she/he is addicted to it.
Keep your eyes and ears open — learn to recognise teenagers at risk and be there for them.
Just letting them know you are there might make a world of difference.
Don't be judgmental. `Different' does not necessarily mean `bad.' If a student is different from your definition of a `good student' it does not mean that he/she is any less capable of doing as well as the `good student.'
Set clear boundaries, but involve your students in the decisions that affect them.
Nurture creativity and expression — be innovative in helping them learn new skills and knowledge. Challenge their intellect.
Remember, teens today have the means to get information; what they need are mentors and role models.
Lastly, and most importantly, respect your students the same way you would like to be respected.
