Dr. Robert Epstein in a very important article “The Myth of the Teen Brain” (Scientific American Mind, April/May 2007) describes how wrong the usual assertion is about adolescent irresponsibility and emotional turmoil. He found that teens in societies who have not adopted Western-style education and entertainment experience no turmoil. In fact, they don’t even have a word for adolescence. We should tap youth energy, creativity and idealism by involving them in adult activities. Instead, we have, in effect, extended childhood with the result that youthful energy has created a teen subculture operating with its own customs, language, music, clothing– mostly at odds with adult culture.
The implications of these ideas for education and society mean a shift in the conventional paradigm about the roles for youth in our culture. Epstein has further detailed these ideas in his new book, The Case against Adolescence. Epstein writes lucidly and documents thoroughly. His ideas are highly recommended as foundational to rethinking schooling and certainly for offering educational alternatives!
Epstein does not stand alone on this issue. Dr. Ruthanne Kurth Schai in an earlier marvelous article, The Roles of Youth in Society: a Reconceptualization (Educational Forum, 52(2): 113-132, 1988) said much the same thing, also with careful documentation. From her website, click on Scholarship and scroll down to the article.