Help spread the word about my latest book, Ending Discrimination Against Young People. You can share this post, or the webpage, or the Amazon.com page with your friends, family, and colleagues. You can also interview me for your blog, write an article about the book, or line me up with any of your contacts toContinue reading “Share the Word!”
Tag Archives: society
Eaten By The System
“This is the threat to our lives. We all face it. We all operate in our society in relation to a system. Now is the system going to eat you up and relieve you of your humanity or are you going to be able to use the system to human purposes? …If the person doesn’tContinue reading “Eaten By The System”
The Tree of Adultism
The Tree of Adultism shows how the roots are formed by discrimination against young people. In my book, Ending Discrimination Against Young People, I explain how all these different aspects are borne of discrimination against young people. As they emerge in our lives, they are exhibited through formal and informal ways that are present inContinue reading “The Tree of Adultism”
The Value of Meaningfulness
“Life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat.”—Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man. Living within a vacuum is the standard for many people today. Aspiring to have and keep the things that are prescribed in life, people keep jobs that don’t hold meaning for themContinue reading “The Value of Meaningfulness”
Youth Hyperbole of the Day
Two murders by two sets of teens within a week in two towns somewhere in America: Get ready for the onslaught of generalizations, hyperbole, and overall negative news about the state of youth today. Once again, we’ll see the media overhype these particular situations to serve their own purposes. In reality, young people murder youngContinue reading “Youth Hyperbole of the Day”
No Ms. Smith, There’s No Such Thing As Troubled Youth
Dear Ms. Smith, I recently read your blog the other day about “troubled youth”, and felt compelled to respond. I know you meant well, but the way you framed the problem was diminutive and belittling of the teens you are talking about. Unfortunately, most writers do it this way, because that’s the way mainstream societyContinue reading “No Ms. Smith, There’s No Such Thing As Troubled Youth”
Adultism and Classism
After getting prompted to expand on it in the “I Fight Adultism!” group on facebook, tonight I’m thinking about the inseparable connection between adultism and classism. Definitions Adultism is bias towards adults. Classism is discrimination against someone because of their social class. Class is the grouping of people according to their social, economic, or educational status.Continue reading “Adultism and Classism”
Our Hope Is Students on Fire!
The world is on fire right now! As I sat at my computer at my dining room table in Olympia, Washington, in the Cascadia region of North America, I read about the new round of protests erupt around the world. In one day, there were reports of students in Chile, the working class masses ofContinue reading “Our Hope Is Students on Fire!”
10 Steps To Youth Integration
Challenging youth segregation can be tricky. Anyone who advocates for youth involvement, youth engagement, youth voice, youth empowerment, or youth rights is ultimately calling for the same this: the integration of young people in our society. As it stands, young people are routinely segregated from a lot of places. This includes the institutions that serve themContinue reading “10 Steps To Youth Integration”
The LIVE ENGAGED Manifesto
Last night I announced my new LIVE ENGAGED Manifesto on Facebook. This manifesto is meant to summarize my beliefs about where this work is going and what it should be doing. Let me know what you think! Share your thoughts about the LIVE ENGAGED Manifesto on my website!
