Teen Terrorism

So let me get this straight. Dangerous Minds was a fictional movie and not a documentry? Seriously though, was anyone that surprised to find out that teen violence is a biproduct of abuse and poverty. I don't mean to sound so sarcastic, but none of this is news to me. The streotypes we create about teens is based on the same principals as racial streotypes, misinformation and ignorance. As a prospective teacher, the only way to combat this is to find some way to involve oneself with teens before we enter the classroom. I'm only ten years removed from highschool, and I'll admit that teens seem almost alien or foreign to me at times. What is that kid wearing? What's with this music? And yet I'm not so sure that many prospective teachers are taking this step to familiarize themselves with future students. Not to mention that teachers who grew up in rural areas or suburbs are facing a double whammy. I think that sometimes people underestimate the culture shock and subsequent peroid of adjustment that come with being a new teacher in an urban school. I was fortunate enough to graduate from MPS, and I believe that this experienc will be a valuable asset; but I can't help that I'm getting older, I need to find ways to reconnect with my younger self.