Joliet Central High School
Joliet, Illinois
Teacher: Michael Reilly

 

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An Integration of the Primitive and Civilized

by Alison Szopinski
Grade 11

 

             

Adolescence is a time in human development that affects every person, regardless of race, color, or sex. Yet, the stress associated with this change does not seem to affect all societies as it does the United States. Maybe this is saying that the stress of adolescence should be attributed to culture, rather than the actual physiological changes that are taking place during this time.

 

In the U.S. and other more civilized countries, as a young person matures into an adult, the change can cause many side-effects. These may include depression, confusion, and loneliness.  Along with these feelings is an extreme (and possibly unnecessary) amount of stress for many teens.  This stress is usually attributed to the physical changes taking place during adolescence.  In the U.S., a person usually lives a relatively simple life as a child, with few worries.  Then they reach the age of adolescence. All of a sudden they are expected to drop much of the fun and simplicity of life and quickly insert themselves into the complicated world of adulthood!  There are no transitions, no instruction manuals, and no continuous or set rites of passage. It’s no wonder adolescents are under so much stress! 

 

This stress could possibly be avoided, though. If all adolescents around the world, no matter what society they come from, are going through the same physiological changes, then why aren’t they all going through the same amount of stress?  

 

In more primitive societies, adolescence is not such a severe time of stress. Maybe this is because in these societies a rite of passage is initiated at the beginning of childhood.  Children learn responsibility from the beginning, even if it is as small as cleaning up after themselves. As they mature, their responsibilities build into strengths that benefit the society as a whole. As time goes by, they are continually tested on their abilities. Through this, they learn what it means to be a true adult. Though there may not be a very significant differentiation between childhood and adulthood, a person is always maturing and learning, which is respected by the society as a whole. With this method of living, there is less stress put on adolescents.  Unlike Americans, adolescents in more primitive societies are not thrown into adulthood without knowing what it truly means to be a mature and responsible person in the world, thus causing less stress.

 

At first, this way of living and maturing may seem like a more ideal way of life, but it is also evident that returning to more primitive ways could drastically affect a society. Since “primitive” cultures and populations greatly vary with more ‘civilized’ societies, it would be very difficult to conform to these “less stressful” ways. The key is to integrate the ‘primitive’ and “civilized.”  Through this, our society can learn such important lessons as simplification and responsibility for all ages.  By integrating these two diverse societies, a more balanced and less-stressful way of life can be formed.

 

Though this integration would not be easily accomplished, no great thing ever has been. The once primitive idea of giving children as young as four or five simple household tasks could easily be introduced to our more civilized society. Though it may not benefit a whole society or even community, it would do a great deal of good in a small family setting. Not only would the child’s parents be happy that they were getting help around the house, most importantly the child would be learning a small responsibility that could later be built on. As the child matures, so will her responsibilities. By the time she reaches the age of adolescence, she will be mature enough to approach the adult world with less stress and a more relaxed point of view. This is because throughout her whole life she will have accomplished a small right of passage each step of the way. Therefore, she will be more prepared for whatever the future holds. The adult world will no longer be something adolescents are thrown into, but something they’ve been preparing for their whole life. Even after reaching adulthood, responsibility will be instilled in them and will be shown in all they do.

 

While this integration will never create a ‘perfect’ society, it can possibly create a less stressful and more peaceful one. Through completing a rite of passage, no matter how small, a person’s strengths are validated and appreciated. A person can learn that it is important to do things not just for himself, but also for the benefit of everyone involved.  By learning what it means to work with others and be responsible, a person will go through less stress no matter what stage of life they are in or what society they originate from.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


                                        Required Reading Questions

 

Q1-      In the start of Margaret Mead’s 1961 Preface to Coming of Age in Samoa, she touches on the point that young Americans may be becoming “less than they might be,” which is somewhat reminiscent of the current Army recruiting commercial which states: “Be all that you can be in the Army!”  While the Army believes that by enlisting, a young person can succeed and enhance their possibilities, Mead is simply inferring that learning “what a difference culture can make, in terms of stress and strain” can actually make all the difference between fulfillment and defeat. 

 

Q2-      To a point, the issues of the 1920's that were mentioned (the importance of the language spoken in the home, familial pressures on children, misconceptions about race and color, and the effects of artificially separating children from a knowledge of birth, love and death) are all somewhat present in today’s society.  For instance, the importance of the language spoken in the home is still an important issue today.  Many children are brought up in homes where the main language spoken is not English, thus requiring the child to become bilingual in order to communicate with the family and society in general.  Another issue still present today is familial pressure on children.  Though pressure from the family may not be as strong as it was in the past, the basic goal for many children is to please their parents and make them proud. Even with more options to explore, many young people look back at what their parents would want them to do because of familial pressure.  With this pressure comes the fact that many parents try to separate their children from a knowledge of birth, love, and death by sheltering them from the “real world.” Also, while misconceptions about race and color are positively decreasing, they are unfortunately still present in today’s society.

 

Q3-      The typical meaning of culture is usually defined as a civilization’s customs, beliefs, and way of life.  In my opinion, the basis of culture is manmade.  Culture originates from one generation to the next carrying on certain customs and traditions.  Of course, it is up to each generation to carry on these traditions.  If a certain generation chooses to design their culture “closer to the desires of their own hearts,” they will have created  totally new and unique traditions.  Therefore, when man has the freedom to continually change his culture, he will yield an always changing one.  Though Mead’s definition may not fit the typical one, it applies much more to today’s society and ever-changing culture.

 

Q4-            Throughout Margaret Mead’s writings she was advocating an integration of the primitive and civilized.  Rather than returning to primitive ways and culture, Mead was encouraging our civilized society to learn from them such lessons as simplification and responsibility for all ages.

By integrating these two diverse societies, a more balanced way of life can be formed.

 

Q5-      To be recognized and understood, isn’t that what most people desire?  Though most teens would not like everything they do to be recognized by adults, a general understanding of their intentions would most likely be appreciated by teens.  Boundaries and structure of course need to be set, but not to an extreme extent.  With leniency on behalf of both teens and adults, a smoother relationship can thrive.

 

Q6-      Drugs and alcohol are available throughout my school’s student body, but it is a student’s personal choice whether or not to partake in such activities.  Like many school environments, drugs are only there if you’re looking for them.  While peer pressure is present, the decision is up to the student.

 

Q7-            Prejudice and stereotyping unfortunately can’t be avoided, but to let someone else’s opinion bring you down and hold you back is something you can only blame yourself for.  Not all black teenagers have to deal with this negative “plight,” and not all non-black teenagers are exempt from it.  Rather than being angry and complaining about it, maybe it is time for these unhappy teenagers to do something about it and stand up for themselves.

 

Q8-      While the main purpose of going to school is to get an education, a very important aspect  is to help students grow socially.  From the time a child starts school, she is exposed to a wide variety of people and begins to form friendships.  Schooling helps develop a child’s personality.  Being home-schooled or educated with only a certain group of people isolates students and disables them from being exposed to a variety of perspectives.

 

Q9-      Schools should not only teach basic academics, but also lessons that can be used later in life.  Preparing students for the next level of education should not be the only focus.  It is time for schools to start preparing students for the real world, teaching them skills that will take them beyond graduation from high school and admission into college. 

 

Q10-    If adults and adolescents opened the lines of communication, neither would be in such a confused state of understanding the intentions of the other.  Being understood is not only needed for the maturing child, but also the parent.  While parents may feel that they can’t understand or relate to their teenager, I believe adolescents feel the same way toward their parents.  If the teenager and parent would just open up to each other and actually share their personal feelings, the parent will change from just a mother or father to a friend.                                                  

 

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