Sometimes people and educators may come to the unfortunate conclusion that by the time a student reaches adolescence it is too late to help that student achieve a “positive development”. They may believe that a student is more malleable and has a greater potential for development at a younger age and therefore by the time they reach adolescence they are already developed and that it is too late.
Although a “positive development” may take longer at the adolescent age and require more work from the educator, Lerner discusses more recent studies that state that even in adolescence there is the potential for positive growth. “Indeed, it is this plasticity that provides the theoretical basis of the view that all young people possess strengths or, more simply, the potential for positive development.” (Damon, 2004; Damon & Gregory, 2003). As educators this is very important to keep in mind when working with adolescent students. It is particularly important to remember that the potential is there, whether it is easily visible or not, and that every student has the potential for positive growth and development. It is our job to figure out how to get our students to reach that potential.
I appreciate your idea that it is never too late to help students achieve their “positive development” even they have already stepped into their adolescence.. The key factor is never the age but the extent to which the educator believes in the student. I agree with you that every educator should bear in mind that we should never give up a student but offer our help as well as we can.
Woah! Nice to point out the idea that potential is throughout the ages. I agree that it is never ever too late to teach the students. As teachers, we need to know our students. As teachers, we know our students and understand their behaviors by their cultural backgrounds. We become observers to guide our students construct idea; and planers to plan out effective activity to motivate students participate in class.