Education and Child Study 342 - GROWING UP AMER: ADOL & INSTIT

The institutional educational contexts through which our adolescents move can powerfully influence the growth and development of our youth. Using a cross-disciplinary approach, this course will examine those educational institutions central to adolescent life: schools, classrooms, school extracurriculars, arts-based organizations, athletic programs, community youth organizations, faith-based organizations, and cyber-communities. Three issues will be investigated. First, what theoretical and socio-cultural perspectives shape these educational institutions? Second, how do these institutions serve or fail the diverse needs of American youth? This course includes a service learning commitment and several evening movie slots. Enrollment limited to 35.