Teens in transition : stories of disaffection and hope
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Date
1999
Authors
Barton, Inta
University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Education
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Education, 1999
Abstract
The paper is based on four hours of interviews with two female high school
students in Western Canada and traces their successful completion of secondary school in
an alternative setting. The girls' recollection of elementary, jr. high school and high
school experiences highlight their perception of what was lacking for them in the
traditional school setting and what they perceive as positive in the alternative center.
Many quotes give a clear sense of the girls' voices and the themes evolve from their
comments. Relationships emerge as central to all school situations with issues such as
classroom climate, teacher and peer personalities, lack of privacy in school settings and
ownership of their learning choices falling under this category. Youth culture is a key
component in their stories and the themes of pushout, underachievement, peer pressure
and hidden curriculum appear throughout. The interviews trace the evolution of their
future goals during their semester at the alternative school and the reasons they perceive
the setting to be such a positive venue for learning.
Description
iv, 53 leaves ; 29 cm. --
Keywords
Teenagers -- Canada -- Attitudes , Teenagers -- Education -- Canada , Free schools -- Canada, Western