Teenage Wastse Laned
Overview
Daisy Coble meets with the principal of the private high school that her son, Donny, attends, and the principal tells her that Donny is disruptive and not responsive in class. At the principal's suggestion, Daisy supervises Donny's homework. His grades improve slightly, but the school reports new behavior problems, including smoking and possibly drinking. A psychologist recommends a tutor, Cal Beadle, whom Donny meets with three times a week and grows to like. Cal says that Daisy and Matt, Donny's parents, are too controlling and accusatory. Although Daisy tries to be positive with Donny, his behavior continues to deteriorate, and eventually he is expelled from school. Cal calls the expulsion unjust, but Daisy no longer trusts Cal. She enrolls Donny in a public school and stops the tutoring sessions. One day Donny runs away from home, and he does not return.
Issues
this story addresses * young adult disillusionment * parental responsibility * lack of academic progress * "expert" opinion versus common sense * effects of drug and alcohol on decision-making processes * teenage runaways
Critical thinking
* If this story were told from Donny's perspective, what details do you think would change? Why? What does Daisy's account not take into consideration? * Donny's inappropriate behavior is typical of a lot of teens. What outward signs of distress does he show? How should he have been helped? * Daisy accepts the decisions of the "experts." Do you think she was right or wrong in doing so? Why/Why not? * As a parent, what could Daisy have done to prevent Donny's running away? What responsibility does his father share in the outcome? * What blame do the "experts" shoulder in Donny's running away? * Is Donny to blame for anything? Has he acted in his best interest? How do you think his future will be affected by the decisions he made in his youth? * What should Daisy do to deal with the guilt she
Daisy Coble meets with the principal of the private high school that her son, Donny, attends, and the principal tells her that Donny is disruptive and not responsive in class. At the principal's suggestion, Daisy supervises Donny's homework. His grades improve slightly, but the school reports new behavior problems, including smoking and possibly drinking. A psychologist recommends a tutor, Cal Beadle, whom Donny meets with three times a week and grows to like. Cal says that Daisy and Matt, Donny's parents, are too controlling and accusatory. Although Daisy tries to be positive with Donny, his behavior continues to deteriorate, and eventually he is expelled from school. Cal calls the expulsion unjust, but Daisy no longer trusts Cal. She enrolls Donny in a public school and stops the tutoring sessions. One day Donny runs away from home, and he does not return.
Issues
this story addresses * young adult disillusionment * parental responsibility * lack of academic progress * "expert" opinion versus common sense * effects of drug and alcohol on decision-making processes * teenage runaways
Critical thinking
* If this story were told from Donny's perspective, what details do you think would change? Why? What does Daisy's account not take into consideration? * Donny's inappropriate behavior is typical of a lot of teens. What outward signs of distress does he show? How should he have been helped? * Daisy accepts the decisions of the "experts." Do you think she was right or wrong in doing so? Why/Why not? * As a parent, what could Daisy have done to prevent Donny's running away? What responsibility does his father share in the outcome? * What blame do the "experts" shoulder in Donny's running away? * Is Donny to blame for anything? Has he acted in his best interest? How do you think his future will be affected by the decisions he made in his youth? * What should Daisy do to deal with the guilt she