Issues in Education: Teenagers
Where are the college Guys?
Article by Jose Cardenas, St. Petersburg (FL)
Times, February 4,
2007
CLEARWATER - Nikia Smith could have left his studies at St. Petersburg College to work full time.
"It was hard," Smith said of his days, which started before dawn and lasted long after dark. "5:30 to 9:40 at night. Handling two jobs for two years. I don't see how I did it, looking back."
He hasn't quit, but young men like him are increasingly rare on college campuses both in Florida and nationwide.
The number of male students is dwindling quickly enough that SPC recently created a support group, tentatively called Men on the Way.
"The Truth About Boys"
Article by Melinda Houston,
The Age (Australia), November 27, 2006
By chasing 'masculine' ideals - subjects and careers - young males may be sabotaging their chances of excelling...
"We've forgotten to teach social skills, and
our children are stagnating"
Article by Jenni Russell,
The Guardian (United Kingdom), November 8, 2006
Last year a bright 15-year-old, who comes from a home without books but goes to a highly rated grammar school, came to stay with us for a week over Christmas. At first he said little. It was clear that he wasn't accustomed to laying tables for dinner or making conversation with adults. Then, as he listened to other people's noisy discussions, he began to ask tentative questions. What is a government minister? What is the EU? Who's Mozart? Did Japan fight in the second world war? What does Palestine mean, and what does it have to do with Israel? His curiosity and his intelligence were obvious. His inarticulacy and lack of a general or social education, despite his apparently desirable schooling, were heartbreaking...
"I Said, 'Not While You Study!'
Science Suggests Kids Can't Study and Groove at the Same Time
Article by Jeffrey Ghassemi,
Washington Post, Sept. 5, 2006
Memo to: Frustrated parents
From: Health section staff
Subject: Your kids' study habits
There's some impressive new scientific research on your side when you tell your kids they can't possibly do their homework with the TV blaring, instant messenger crawling or MP3 player pumping. Unfortunately, explaining it will require you to get them unplugged from their iPods.
Tell them this: A recent study shows that
the ruckus of such multi-tasking may make them learn less, and to use the wrong
parts of their brains to store information.
"Parents warned over computer use"
BBC online article, July 17,
2006
The children's charity NCH said there was "an alarming gap" in technological knowledge between generations.
Even when parents had put controls on what youngsters could access, almost half the 1,003 children aged 11 to 16 surveyed said they could disable them.
The NCH said families had to learn more about
technology to protect children.
Report from the Gates Foundation
Why do a third of American high school students leave school without a diploma?
What might help keep them in school, engaged and learning?
A survey released in March 2006
put these and related questions to a group that isn’t usually asked for
opinions on American education—high school dropouts. Nearly 500 former
students who had attended schools in 25 locations were polled. Researchers found
that although some dropouts had faced academic problems, the overwhelming
majority possessed the potential to graduate. Further, the students had strong
and thoughtful opinions on what might have kept them in school.
Report from NCH: The Children's Charity
A family guide on getting to grips with technology
NCH campaigns for wider access to information and communication technology for children from less advantaged backgrounds. We also recognize that the internet enables those who would harm children to have wider and more direct access to them. Therefore we strongly promote online safety for all children.