Book Discussion: The Case Against Adolescence

[Tim Fredrick]

Hello all.  I just read this great book called The Case Against Adolescence: Rediscovering the Adult in Every Teen by Robert Epstein, Ph.D.  Epstein argues that as a society we have infantilized our teenagers and have stopped treating them like the adults they could be.  The book has really changed the way I look at my students, at my classes, and at ELA teaching.  You can read an interview from Psychology Today with Dr. Epstein here:  http://psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20070302-000002.html

I'd like to lead a discussion group on this book sometime this summer.  I would invite interested people over and make dinner for them some night in July or August.  I might record the conversation and maybe write something up on it (if I did and it got published, you could be an anonymous participant if desired).  Please let me know if you would be interested in reading and discussing the implications of this book for ELA teachers. Also, please forward this to any secondary ELA teachers you think would be interested.

Tim Fredrick

P.S.  I apologize if you get this message more than once - some of you are on a lot of my lists!