The World Beneath

So, I'm taking 3 classes this quarter (apparently that's full time in Grad School). My Foundations of Youth Ministry is taught by a gentleman named Chap Clark who has written many a books on Youth Ministry. We've just finished reading (What I think is) his most recent book, Hurt. Basically what Chap did is work as a substitute teacher in an LA County high school and got to know kids. He was able to sit down and talk with kids in a very candid environment, after much time spent building trust. His book comes to one very big conclusion...that adolescents have been essentially abandoned in order to figure out how to become adults on their own. This book was very reminiscent of my experience working and living with high school girls. The role I was in at Madeira allowed me to spend time getting to know the kids I was working with on a personal level, and almost to "be in their world". I now realize what a rare opportunity I had. Kids today essentially create their own world in order to protect and support each other, and because I was not a teacher and living with them, I was given small glimpses into this world. Of course, I was still behind the wall, given that I was an adult as well as an employee of the school. The girls knew this as did I. The relationships I have with some of the girls now is a whole new place. Because I'm no longer contractually bound to the school, the girls are more willing to talk about experiences (joys and fears) on a different level. I would highly encourage anyone who is working with adolescents (particularly high school) to read this book. It's a difficult read if you know kids, because it says a lot of hard truths, but it's worth the read. Many adults and schools deny that these are real issues and that "their kids aren't like that", but according to Chap: Their kids are just good liars.