Adolescence-------- A Period of Strom & Stress

Dr. Stanley Hall, an American early proponent of pschoanalises was responsible for Coining the term adolescence from Latin Word ADOLESERE which means lo ripen or to grow-up. Dr. Hall’s thesis on ‘Adolescence & Recapitulation’ is a master piece in the annals of educational psychology Chapter.

The adolescences is the phase of life between Childhood & adulthood, occurring between the ages of 13 years to 19 years. There are three stages of adolescence but Some Say that the period is 13 years to 25 years. Recent analysis reveals that the period as per the World Health Organization (WHO) is 13 years to 26 years. In 21st Century, 26 years now has become the new 19 years . It is amazing indeed!

Features of adolescence Period

Rapid body growth ---------- Leading to Changes in height weight & body Composition.

Biological Changes --------- Physically and Mentally

Appearance---------- Voice changes & many organs Start developing

Career Conscientious --------- Career Vision -- a desire to have a bright future.

Emotional Conditions ------ Like happiness, love & depression.

Flight on imagination ------- Great imagination but unlikely to be true or practical.

Sexual attraction------- Desire to mix with opposite Sex

Cognitive development ----- Abstruct thinking begins to develop the ability to think logically.

Early stages of indolence experience rapid physically growth & it is also an unique stage of human development for laying the foundation of good health & psychosocial growth. Great interest of new hobbies, self discovery & importance of acceptance of ’Peer Group are noted. They spend (boys & girls) less time with families & focus more on their peers who Can function as mentors.

Now the Vital question is how to guide the adolescents from the 1st Stage of development till they reach the edlehood. None can ignore gigantic force of youngsters in social & Political Spheres.

Take for instance from our immediate neighbours Republic of China. The students protestors in Tiananmen Square in the year 1989. At the Very outset, the grieved Students were asking the government to drop Corruption & misuse of political power. They also tried to prevent the increasing wealth accumulation by Some Selected persons. This was the good part of protest of Students of the age group between 15 years to 25 years of age, asking reform in all political system. Eventually they were misguided by political forums & turned violent. A massacre took place in Tiananmen Square. Hundreds & thousands students died When the Chinese communist army started firing random to Control the mob - unarmed & pro democratic students.

Similarly the Students have been protesting against the authoritarian regime of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina: Now She had to flee Dhaka on August 15^th, 2024 & living in a safe place outside Bangladesh.

In same pattern of protests in the medical College namely R.G. Kar medical College & hospital Kolkata. All the medical College Students of late adolescence are still continuing their protests. The demonstration highlights serious concerns related to the medical institution… including demands for improvements in facilities & Working conditions & safety. They are protesting against mal practices in college & demanded redresses of their grievances & wanted justice.

Remedies

The many Studies & Surveys of ‘adolescence delinquency’ that have appeared in recent years, reveal that how unwise it is to generalize reasons why boys & girls go wrong specially at the period of adolescence (13 years to 23 years)

 The Unsatisfactory Home

The unsatisfactory home atmosphere is the main causes of unrest. The ‘Starved affections’ are as much a tragedy as ‘starved bodies’. The simple truth is that no one grows fully without love & affection from parents, teachers & society. The simple truth is that no one can grow fully in body, mind and spirit without affection & love.

There is ample evidence writes educational psychologists of great experience that due to lack of discipline at home & School, love & affection from parents, teachers, boys & girls in any age group turn hostile, impersonal & introvert.

 Sex Education & Counseling

The Sex education as well as Counseling is well-nigh essential. All the Schools, affiliated  with  Central boards are required to have components of sex education in their Syllabi. The Sex education among the students is required to develop positive emotions else it may lead to emotional disturbances & they may go astray. However in sex education high quality teaching and learning is required in our ancient civilization sex education was imparted in Gurukula in process of quality teaching.

Control of mind

Physical exercise, Yoga & meditation Can improve one's Sense of Control & and it also Control stress & anxiety. Exercise can help you feel a scene & distract you from negative thoughts & provide opportunities. Meditation & prayer are invisible but make impossible things possible.

To conclude one is to remember that adolescents are not monsters. ‘Adolescence is a war. No one gets out unscratched. Adolescence is a new birth for higher & more completely human traits are now born’. Dr. Stanley Hall, The father of indolence studies.

D.K. Dass (Purkayastha)

Former Principal Teachers’ Training Institute

Govt.of Sikkim

Principal Sr. H.S. School Pelling

Excecutive Members of usha Organic (Co-op) mfg. Society

Former Executive member of Confederation of Industries of Sikkim