Youth Under Scrutiny

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31530, 18 November 1967, Page 23

Youth Under Scrutiny

(N.Z. Press Association) TIMARU, Nov. 17. The “sub-culture” of adolescence and its rites of language, etiquette, dress and morality came under scrutiny at a teach-in for secondary school pupils at Timaru this week.

Dr G. S. Fraser, senior lecteurer in sociology and education at Massey University, said adults seeing evidence of the “culture” were alternately appalled, angered and envious.

Speaking at a seminar at the Timaru Boys’ High School attended by the senior pupils of all the city's colleges. Dr Fraser said that possibly no period in the human life cycle had received as much attention as adolescence, and although numerous research reports, feature articles and newspaper stories recounted the ingenuity, inventiveness. Idealism and appeal of teenagers, many chose to concentrate on the lurid and disagreeable. “Stories of these aspects of youth culture seem to be more saleable, especially to the mass media,” he said. “Reports of youthful violence may also provide the adult reader with a vicarious re-entry into a world he outgrew before he knew it existed.” Dr Fraser said the pervasive fear of the adolescent had been noted with alarm, and adolescents themselves were not immune to the bad Image they appeared to convey.

“In the latter respect, what I like to call a self-fulfilling prophecy type of mechanism may operate,” he said. “For example, being seen as deviant. irresponsible and lacking in taste does little to encourage one to conform—should that be highly prized —or to accept responsibility for one's actions and to demonstrate judgment and taste. “Being perceived as someone to be feared may enhance one’s feeling of possessing

power which ordinary mortals cannot exercise.” Dr Fraser said that in addition to “a bad press,” adolescents were also exposed to many of the stresses, uncertainties and contradictions of New Zealand life that impinged on adults. “But with an added irony,” he said. “Adolescents, in the main, are seldom expected, nor asked, to concern themselves with these pressures and problems. Not only is the adolescent seldom asked, but when he evinces an interest he usually finds that noone particularly cares for his opinion.”