Adolescent period is the period of transition in the life of an individual. For boys, between 14 to 21 and for girls between 12-21 year of age are the most striving and impressionable period. At this stage, a teacher has to guide the students properly. This is called the period of storm and stress. This is also the period of strength and energy. A boat sails easily when the wind is favorable. So is the period of adolescent, if properly guided, they can reach to their goals easily. At the same time, if they do not get proper guidance then everything may go upside down.
According to Rousseau, “The worst enemy of the youth is himself.” So, the role of a teacher is immense. A teacher has to understand the very nature of the students. All adolescents are not same. They differ widely. A common approach may not function for all. Different attitudes need different approaches. However, all the adolescents at this period are full of fantasy and dreams. At this stage they must be kept busy from morn till bed-time. For physical exhaustion, all kinds of outdoor games must be provided with. Mr. M. K. Gandhi in his Tolstoy Farm, managed the adolescents to do all their works by themselves with physical labors. They were made to wash their clothing, carry timber and did everything to clean their environment. Thus, their superfluous energy was channelized for their own improvement.
Many psychologists prefer sex education at this period. At this period, youths generally involve in reading pornography, day-dreaming and hero worshipping in order to escape the stark reality. They are very curious at this stage. So it is advisable that the pupils are taught about sex and get very clear guidance about the mystery of sex by the elders. No “hush hush” policy is a guide. They are tormented at this stage and pass through auto-eroticism, homo-sexualism and hetero-sexualism.
They want to make their presence felt in every field. They become sensitive to public praise or blame. They constantly change their moods from optimism to pessimism. Sometime they feel insecured and yearn for warmth and companionship. Teachers are to encourage them at different performances and must draw out the best in each of the budding youths. Proper guidance by the teachers would boost up their inherent potentialities. A touch of hope could be of help even to those who have gone to astray.
Adolescents should be given wide responsibilities. This would help them to understand their own values. They should be given multiple choices to create or express their ideas both in writings and paintings and through speeches. Teamwork and leadership would help them become social. John Locke opined an austere life for the adolescents. Above all open minded dealings by teachers are a better approach.
Free mixing of boys and girls are encouraged at this stage. Co-education helps proper understandings of the opposite sex. Good books, spiritual guidance, ethics – all these may bring mental equilibrium to adolescents.
A teacher is like a director or superintendent and he should help the pupils to teach themselves. In other words, auto education must be encouraged. Authoritarian position of the instructors is now over-ruled. The teacher should be fit both physically and mentally to combat the variegated problems of learners. A teacher, in order to be an ideal helper must be well informed and should make himself attractive both in speech and dress. Words should encourage students to go ahead and face the problems of life boldly. A strong and stout teacher with mental and intellectual efficiency is now an ideal teacher for the adolescents. The ready hand of a teacher would help to energize adolescents to their proper growth and for the attainment of manhood or womanhood.