In The Adolescent Society, Coleman argues that
educating the youth is one of the fundamental tasks of society; however, with
the changing dynamics of society, the “processes of education” have changed
with the emergence of an industrial society and economic specialization. These
changes force parents to send their children to formal educational institutions
which supposedly offer tools for children to succeed in the modern day society.
However, Coleman argues that the education of children in these institutions has
created a completely separate subculture, one where adolescents become
distanced from the rest of society and seek to identify more with their peers. This
creates a social system where the goals of education become overshadowed by
youth culture and the desire to fit in with their peers. Coleman supports his
argument by presenting surveys of youth that show the shift from the want to
fulfill their parents’ desires to the want to fit in with their peers.
Coleman ignores the fact that
although children spend a considerable time at school with their peers, they
also spend a substantial time at home. The amount of time a child spends at home
depends on a parent’s regulation and monitoring of their child’s activity.
Before a youth turns into an adult, a parent has not only the right but also the
responsibility to enforce these rules. Coleman also argues that “adolescents
have become an important market, and special kinds of entertainment cater
almost exclusively to them”. This relates to the idea of youth-as-consumers and
the idea that youth have not only acquired greater spending power but also the
ability to experiment with these forms of entertainment without adult
supervision. I feel Coleman takes an adult-centered perspective by looking at
the problem of separation of youth from adult society as a problem caused by youths
without taking into account an adult’s involvement or lack thereof. While
parents may not be able to provide formal education such as science or math,
they still have the ability to teach their children moral values which shape
their character and can affect a child’s decision making. Furthermore, it is up
to the parents to regulate the type of entertainment their child is exposed to.
The article “Kids online:
parents, don’t panic” by Danah Boyd offers a different perspective on adolescent
subculture. Boyd argues that social media has simply provided children with an
easier way of talking with a large group of peers due to the limited free time
of young adults who often participate in after-school activities or jobs. Although
social media may contain some “unhealthy interactions” it contains information
which can be educationally beneficial. Furthermore, Boyd observes that parents
spend a great amount of time on their own electronic devices as their children
do. Whether it be constantly checking their phone, or glued to the television,
doesn’t this distance adults from youth?
Link to
article: http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/mar/01/young-people-online-parents-dont-panic-instagram-snapchat
