From Publishers Weekly
Are American teenagers getting the preparation they need to be ready for tomorrow's jobs? In a five-year study, psychologist and bestselling author Csikszentmihalyi (Flow; The Evolving Self; etc.) and sociologist Schneider (The Ambitious Generation) collected data on more than 1,000 middle- and high-school students across the country. Their findings: "The average teenager has quite positive educational, occupational and lifestyle expectations." About 80% expect to complete four years of college, and many hope for careers in the professionsAa pattern that holds across race, ethnic, class and gender lines; indeed, expectations among African-American, Hispanic and low-income youth tend to be higher than those of affluent whites. More troubling, though, is that teenagers generally lack realistic knowledge about their preferred careers, and schools don't necessarily help them develop the skills and attitudes that Csikszentmihalyi and Schneider believe will best prepare them for the rapidly changing workplace. Adolescents, they argue, need a solid foundation in math and science. They also need opportunities to experience "intense concentration in any activity that requires skill and discipline," and that teaches them to enjoy challenge. Individual projects and community internships, among other programs, provide such experiences, yet sadly, they are seldom available to lower-income families. The authors interpret their data clearly, discuss the importance of parental guidance and role modeling from other adults, and offer sensible recommendations for educational policy. Sure to be of major importance to educators and social scientists, this study will also benefit parents and general readers. (July)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Csikszentmihalyi is best known for
Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience (1990), a book that popularized his research into happiness and personal fulfillment. He is also a coauthor of
Talented Teenagers: The Roots of Success and Failure (1993). Schneider is the coauthor of another book that looked at young people,
The Ambitious Generation: America's Teenagers, Motivated but Directionless. Now the authors evaluate the findings of a groundbreaking five-year survey to determine how adolescents learn about and choose careers. Investigators looked at how the family, peer groups, schooling and school activities, and the community (including the media) influence ideas and perceptions of school and work. They determined how young adults distinguish between work and play activities and, therefore, what factors contribute to enjoyable work. The authors then suggest ways schools and parents can help adolescents develop the "ability to seek engaging, challenging activities that promote productive adult lives." This advice will also be helpful to those in professions desperate to attract new entrants.
David RouseCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
