[riversled]

We hear in the news media about drug use, rampant sexual exploits and failing academics amongst teenagers. Schools are struggling to keep classrooms a learning environment. Many teachers who enter the teaching profession full of hope and caring are quickly disenfranchised when working with disrespectful, unruly teenagers with no apparent desire to learn.

What is a Troubled Teen? Is it a student with ADHD? Is it a student who struggles with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, drug use or sexual aggressiveness? Maybe the student’s parents divorced, or maybe the student has been abused, struggled with relationships or fails to find purpose in life?

There are millions of students each year moving from childhood through adolescents and on into adulthood. I would bet that the overwhelming majority of them deals at some point with one or more of the problems listed above. Yet, not all students are labeled Troubled Teens. In fact, I would bet that most adjust and deal with the issues just fine and go on to become well-adjusted, productive members of society.

But those who don’t adjust, who continue to spiral out of control, what about them? Are they simply “Bad Apples” with a rotten core? Are they too smart for society or too creative or simply non-conformists? Should parents and society in general try to address some of these issues or just leave it alone? Are there more troubled teens today than a generation ago, or is it simply a perception? Are teens more ill-mannered than a generation ago, or is it simply a perception?

I’m interested in others perspective.