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I was miserable in middle school and high school.

Because I was socially poorly adjusted and very shy.

I don't believe it is possible for counselors, teachers to give individual attention to kids like myself.

Because there are too many of us.

Perhaps there could be some social studies / psychology courses that are pertinent to kids of that age that could do some of the work of a counseling surrogate... talking about how personalities are formed, what the external pressures are, conformity and nonconformity, social values in a capitalistic society, in the media, between generations, etc.

I say "how personalities are formed", because I believe that is the challenge of that age.

That, and recognizing external influences on one's choices.

Note that these are fairly challenging concepts for anybody to think about.

The problem, I believe, is that shy, maladjusted kids are often regarded as doltish and fragile - and so they are given remedial social skills classes which seem merely geared to emphasize conformity, as well as insult their intelligence.

I was poorly prepared for school, and school couldn't help me.

I didn't expect it to.

What would be nice is to be able to take that last two years of high school and return to it when one is really ready and willing to, rather than the feeling of having it crammed down your throat, as with the current model of compulsory education.

posted 4 years, 1 month ago
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