Transcript Teenagers: what problems?

Teenagers: what
problems?
What is good and what is bad about
being a teenager?
What is a teenager?
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Officially, of course, a teenager is anyone aged
from 13 to 19 inclusive, but most people would
probably think first of the younger age group
and exclude 18 and 19-year-olds. After all,
once you reach 18 you can vote, get married
and join the army. On the other hand, children
are growing up and developing more quckly
and these days 11 and12 -year-olds would like
to include themselves in the ‘teenager’ group.
Without getting hung on actual ages, what we
really mean by ‘teenagers’ are people who are
in the stage of their life when they are
developing from children into adults.
Are teenagers a problem?
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According to ‘the older generation’ teenagers
are lazy, they wear ridiculous clothes and are
appallingly rude to their betters and elders;
they find it impossible to be polite, helpful,
constructive, caring or hard-working. What’s
more, they spend their time listening to awful
music and gawping at unsuitable films. And
all they ever think about is parties, drugs and
sex.
What young people say about
themselves
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Bob, 15: Not everyone who is a
teenager drinks and gets involved in
fights. This is a horrible stereotype.
My friends and I are all
hardworking. I have a part time job,
attend college, look after my
younger brother and volunteer to
work with sick animals.
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Angus, 15:
I don’t think it’s fair that all teenagers are
being labelled as a problem, most aren’t. It’s
only very few who think it’s clever to go out
and start fights. And I think that adults are
much more of a problem when it comes to
violent behaviour.
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Sara,17:
It’s a load of rubbish that people
wearing hoodies are more likely to do
anti-social things.It’s like saying
you’re a criminal because of the
clothes you put on in the morning. I
just like my clothes to match, which is
why I’m wearing this black hoodie
today, to go with my black jeans, black
cap and black shoes.
Do teenagers have problems
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You might as well ask ‘Do hens lay
eggs?’ Teens are human, so, of
course, they have problems
What is going to happen at
work/school tomorrow?
Why does Dad like my sister better
than me?
Am I too fat/skinny/tall/short etc.?
Does my boyfriend/girlfriend really
like me?
Am I stupid?
How can I afford to buy…..?
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There isn’t anyone alive in the world who hasn’t posed these questions. We usually
do it when we turn out the light and lie down in bed at night and the answers aren’t
very satisfactory.!
It’s true, of course, that sometimes teenagers have special problems. It is a difficult
time because it is a period of transformation. It isn’t quite as bad as a chrysalis
changing into a butterfly but it may seem like it – or even the other way round! It
isn’t easy to grow up and the physical and emotional changes are often confusing
and worrying.