The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1954-05-01
Teachers OfDouglass School
Conduct Interesting Panel

Ii IHOSJ knteT eStlug panel, the
teachers Of Douglass School dis
cussed '"The Changing Social In
sights of the "Preadolescent."
This period includes children in
the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades,
and in many cases, in seventh and
eighth. The range is shifting be-
cause the onset of puberty, which
marks beginning of adolescence,
varies with different individuals.
As in the case of other periods
there are no hard and fast boun-
Diary lines.
The hypothetical average child
is still elusive. He defies definition.
The behavior of a ten-year old
child depends upon his stage of
maturity, previous acts, thoughts,
and feelings, as well as ON his pre-
sent bodily condition and his i'm
mediate environment. Each child
has past in which he has de-
veloped a unique personality.
Children early become aware of
other persons. They are sensitive
to prestige, ridicule and social sta
tus long before they can express
themselves ON these points. In the
pre-school years, fear of failure,
embarrassment, and loss of pres
tige begin to be evident and tend
to increase in many environments.
During pre-adolescent years, with
sufficient environmental stimula-
ton, team spirit, class spirit, and
gang loyalty may be developed.
The word gang has an unsavory
connotation which appears to be
justified. Thrasher pointed out
that the gang appeals to boys as
an escape from hum drum exis-
ence and insofar as it does fur
nish excitement and adventure, it
makes adjustment to adult routine
existence difficult. Thus; it has a
demoralizing effect rather than a
constructive socializing effect. Boys
Clubs, if substantiated for Boys
Gangs, would meet the boys need
for adventure and, at the same
time, be constructive influence
in helping children to adjust to,
an din some small way, to recon-
struct society.
Progressive education hopes to
substitute habits of cooperation
for habits Of competition.
Leadership becomes more prom
inent. Preferred leaders usual
ly appear to be superior, but not
very superior, to the group in in
teligence, somewhat extroverted,
lively, courageous, and physically
superior. Children who are gentle,
friendly, and charming frequently
become a center of attraction,
though they are not likely to be
placed IN positions of leadership.
The standards of adults are re-
jected because in many instances
they are too drastic. Therefore,
individual development and guild
ance of children is the task OF edu-
cation. Without guidance few chill
dren five to twelve years OF age
are capable of critical insight into
their strength and weaknesses,
their needs and capacities.
In the relationship of children
Of this age to one another the
spinal factor plays part. Cues
tons about sex frequently are
suggested by pictures seen in news
papers and magazines, by motion
pictures, and by new companions
with whom the child may associ-
ate in this period. Unsatisfied cur
iosity about sex may lead to sur
reptious discussion Of these mat
ters during recess or in the way 70
school, in secret circulation OF Cd
scene notes and pictures, and even
In other greater demonstrations.
Teachers should not shut their
eyes prudishly or become unduly
agitated when confronted with such
problems. These sexual STRINGS
are personality difficulties to be
treated with the same detachemnt
and practical realism as all other
EMBELLISHMENTS.