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To a teenager, school may seem like the center of the universe. It can be a source
of achievement, self-esteem, friendship and fun, or it can be pure misery.
Sometimes it is all of those things on the same day. This natural swing in mood is
heightened by many pressures on today’s teens.
A number of things can cause problems in a teen’s school world, such as:
- The natural increase in a teen’s social life in high school may temporarily affect
schoolwork.
- Other changes in the teen’s life, like family problems and physical changes, also
can affect schoolwork.
- A sudden, extreme change could be a warning of drug or alcohol use.
- Parents who expect too much can put excessive pressure on a teen. For
example:
- Parents need to adjust standards as a child grows older (a child who is ranked
No. 1 in grade school may be No. 20 in a larger high school).
- Parents should be able to accept the fact that a teen may have to repeat a
course.
- Parents should be sure they are responding to what is good for the child, not
what makes them feel good as parents.
Tips for working out school solutions include:
- Work with the school, taking advantage of the staff ’s expertise, but do not
expect educators to solve problems.
- School psychologists are a good place to start. They generally are willing and
able to help.
- Do not be afraid to seek other outside help. Some school psychologists are only
trained in psychological testing, not in therapy.
- A psychologist can give an assessment of emotional factors.
- Independent academic testing can give a picture of progress and/or problems in
schoolwork.
In the end, most children are average students. The goal of the school and the
student should be the same: to build the foundation for a fulfilling, productive
adult life.
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