When You Are Oppressed, Or Ten Weighty Reasons for Teenagers and Their Parents

[the phantom]

My experience may have been even worse, as I was only slightly older than my students

It is my experience that kids do NOT like authority figures that are the same age, or god forbid, younger, than them

I've been doing tutoring as a job or as volunteer work for six years now and I have discovered that (around these parts anyway) the age of the kid matters more than my age.

For these past six years it's been the same- kids 7 and under do what I tell them, kids 8-10 need to be told more than once, kids 11-13 are nearly impossible to deal with, kids 14-15 are similar to 8-10 years olds, and kids 16 and older do what I tell them (just like kids 7 and under).

I know it seems weird but that's how it has always been for me. 11-13 year olds are always the worst but once they get old enough they don't mind if you're close to their age as long as you aren't a jerk or something. My friends that are around my age do what I tell them much quicker than the junior high students I tutor.

[Encaitare]

I can see how that would be. Around 11-13 I think nearly everyone feels they have something to prove, and it suddenly becomes cool to rebel. Then when people develop personalities they're comfortable with, they become more managable. It also depends on the group -- some kids are just disobedient, and others will listen to the teacher in a second. This is true in my school all the time, sometimes I genuinely pity the teachers. Interest in the topic is a definite factor too.

I'd like to be a teacher giving private music lessons if I can, so then at least I'd know my students would be interested.

[HerenIstarion]

Well, I made a mistake, giving you all a bad example to follow my lead and thus stray from the main route of this thread Confiteor!

But things can be undone

There is another way, I believe, which just dawned on me (pun, pun) whilst reading about pedagogical expericences and observations mentioned. As far as I know, Tolkien is studied in English and US schools at some grade as part the English classes. What if The BD is offered as kind of 'additional reading' stuff to be done by the class?

cheers

[Bêthberry]

Tolkien is studied in English and US schools at some grade as part the English classes. What if The BD is offered as kind of 'additional reading' stuff to be done by the class?

Not simply reading, please, my cheery HerenIstarion. Please point out to anxious parents that we have extensively developed and supervised role playing forums which maintain the strictest standards of canonicity (oh dear, that word again) and integrity in writing. Their children can develop both their imagination and their writing skills. And we expect proper English (or improper American) spelling. We are more fun than a spelling bee!

Parents might be particularly happy that we don't allow slash and are a PG 13 site. (Well, assuming that parents would object to slash,...)

[Estelyn Telcontar]

... not to mention the fact that we hold good manners in high esteem, something that should be much appreciated by parents! No flaming or rudeness allowed here. (Yes, we have our Rules, set up by the Chief, but his name's not Lotho! )

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

What if The BD is offered as kind of 'additional reading' stuff to be done by the class?

Brilliant suggestion. I tried to get the 'Downs involved in my Tril class last year (LotR Trilogy class...), but my teacher wouldn't take me seriously.

No flaming or rudeness allowed here.

Too true. Parents should appreciate the fact that in my *quick thinking* year and a half on this site, I've come across perhaps two things that offended me, and both were dealt with very quickly by our Higher Ups. How many other web-based forums can boast the same? Most others fly off-topic in the second post of a thread, never to return again. So besides learning all of the things previously listed, we 'Downers learn to stick to the task presented. And I might add, isn't that one of the things parents like kids in school to know how to do?

Fea

PS: sorry about my involvement in the off-topicness of this thread. I shall delete my posts if it be so desired.

[Encaitare]

I wish the Downs were considered supplementary for schoolwork, because that is a truly awesome idea. Unfortunately we're don't study Tolkien in school so there would be no such circumstance. It would be cool if there were boards like this for other books.

Parents might be particularly happy that we don't allow slash and are a PG 13 site. (Well, assuming that parents would object to slash,...)

I explained slash to my mom, and she just sort of nodded and was all, "Oh, that's... nice." My poor mother; she's so patient with me and my insane friends.