A Decade Later

Abstract In the first chapter of Turning Points 2000, we are presented with facts about adolescents in America compared to teens around the world. We are also given statistics comparing students who have been in schools styled similar to the style the authors of Turning Points suggests, to other schools not similar to the style the book suggests. We not only learn that the scores in reading, writing and math changes with the style of the middle schools, but the life style of the teenagers change too. The rates of teen pregnancy, sexual activity and drug and alcohol abuse have all changed with the times. The chapter explains that not only do we have to focus on what we are teaching students, but the lives they live outside the classroom and how school affects that.

Reflection I completely agree that as teachers, we need to pay attention to the environments our students are in when they come into school, and when they leave school. It makes complete sense why a school that is extremely crowded and with a higher poverty rate would be less academically successful than a school a smaller student-teacher ratio and more privileged students. I was actually very surprised that the sexual activity and pregnancy rate in teens has gone down. It completely shocked me. I remember hearing some of my students talk about their sex lives while I was in Practicum, and I was teaching eighth graders. I was not shocked when I read that illicit drug use and alcohol use has gone up. That does not shock me at all. I thought that the facts in this chapter were very helpful in giving me a little more insight in teens today because even though I was only in high school a few years ago, it feels like everything has changed so much.