As adults facing the riddles of adolescence, we confront paradoxical pairings: ideals and idols; rough tenderness and fragile rudeness; sexual adventures and true love; the dark abysses of seduction and the pure heights of integrity.

Parents and teachers are often confused about the confusion of their young adults, perplexed by the perplexity of adolescents, embarrassed by young people's embarrassment and helpless because of their helplessness. Sometimes it puts us at our wits' end as we are thrown back on ourselves and upon our own self-image. Indeed, when recognized and understood in the right way, adolescence helps us to understand ourselves.

We will travel through the developing years of adolescence and young adulthood, touching upon the inner and outer lives of the adolescent. We will address the gender questions that emerge during this period. We will study the functions of power and vanity, fear and aggression, drug use and role models, self-awareness and the birth of values.

The themes of "what," "when," "how," and "why" are the four pillars of high school teaching — the social, academic, and practical education of adolescents. In this course, we will explore various options for the curriculum of the four years of high school. Furthermore, we will investigate methods of age-related teaching in high school. This pragmatic approach will give teachers and parents true help for their individual situations.

Suggested reading:

Rudolf Steiner, Education for Adolescents, Anthroposophic Press

Betty Staley, The Sacred Passage, Rudolf Steiner College Press

For lists of pertinent fictional works, write to hans-joachim.mattke@web.de.