The HYY Project
is named after a school club of middle grades boys in Russia that
meet each week to discuss individual member’s home and school
problems. By brainstorming and coming up with plans of action to address
their concerns, club members have empowered themselves to take responsibility
for actions both at home and at school. While we do not know the results
of club members’ actions, we are impressed that they take the
responsibility to try to affect changes in their own lives. We wondered
if this could also work for American youngsters.
Currently, we
do little to teach our early adolescents about the growth and changes
they undergo during adolescence. Why do we keep this a mystery? Perhaps
if they were aware of how they learn, why they behave as they do socially,
why they experience the feelings they do and deal with issues as they
do, they would better understand themselves and their actions. With
this understanding they might be better able to make improved choices
in school and at home.
