Notes from class:
Do teenagers suffer prejudice from adults?
Introduction
Anecdote – Parents’ night – very busy – lots of adults – PR exercise – lots of praise – the role of teenagers – is this an example of terrible teenagers?
Paragraph 1
Most adults think teenagers are: anti-social.
- Stay in their rooms
- Don’t talk to adults much
But: playing outside with friends – family event – Duke of Edinburgh – visit grandparents – school – get involved in community
Paragraph 2
Teenagers are often seen as dangerous
Reports on the news of violent incidents – one teacher was murdered in Sheffield by her pupil
But: What about the teenagers who calm situations down when they get angry at school – what about teenagers who have to protect siblings from domestic violence – what about teenagers who simply go about their business quietly. The number of violent or dangerous teenagers is less than 1% – most violent crimes in society are committed by adults
Paragraph 3
The culture of teenagers
Adults dislike it because it is different
But their culture was different to their parents’
There is nothing inferior about teenage tastes – they are simply different
This is simply a form of snobbery
Teenagers want to express themselves and to belong to a group – the same as all teenagers who came before them
To call teenagers’ music or TV “bad” is to miss the fact that all teenagers have done this through history