Family

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Troubled Teens Lesson 1
In a parent’s shoes

IGCSE Global Perspectives

Learning objectives
I can empathise with other perspectives
I can comment on spin in a perspective

I can reflect on how sources have

developed my personal perspective
 You are a parent of a teenager who has
Imagine this scenario become rebellious and defiant. They
have started keeping bad company and
experimenting with alcohol (and other
drugs, you suspect). They are doing
badly at school and getting into trouble
with the police.

You are a caring parent and you never

thought this would happen to you. You
are afraid that if you can’t straighten out
your child they will end up in prison or
worse. The situation seems desperate;
you have tried every way you know to
discipline them, but nothing has worked.
What issues cause parents to seek a “last resort” solution?
When we research an issue we need to
identify its causes and effects.

Listen to the opening of a documentary

about children being sent away from
Britain to a “wilderness therapy program”
in the USA. What behaviours have
contributed to their parents’ despair?

Do you agree that all the behaviours are

bad?
A* Challenge: What is an issue?
Let’s continue our imaginary scenario:
Not all programmes for troubled teens
look so harsh.

A friend tells you that a “therapeutic

boarding school” located in a remote
part of the country specialises in
reforming “difficult teenagers” with strict
discipline, sport, therapy, and a healthy
lifestyle. You watch this advert for the
school. It is expensive, but you are willing
to take out a large loan if it will help your
child. Will you enrol your child there?
 Walk to a position in the room that shows your opinion

I’d consider it, but I

I’d send my troubled
might not send them to
teenager there,
such a place,
because...
because...

Classroom Wall
Classroom Wall

YES NO

I definitely wouldn’t
I’d send my teenager
send my child to a place
there provided...
like that because...
How do marketers “spin” their message?
spin
a special point of view, emphasis, or
interpretation presented for the purpose
of influencing opinion
Watch the advert again. List
some ways it makes the school
seem attractive.
A* challenge: Can we trust a
marketer’s perspective?
How might a parent test the
claims in this video? Consider
the types of information,
sources of evidence and
methods they might use.
A national cultural perspective

In the USA it is traditional for even well-

behaved kids to be sent away to summer
camp. In this song, how does Allan
Sherman make comedy out of the gap
between a child’s perspective and an
adult’s?
1. Do we believe the child’s claims about
the dangers of Camp Granada?
2. Why does he suddenly change his
mind about the camp? A* Challenge: Humour like this
3. What is the joke about a child’s seems innocent enough, but how
perspective? might it cause problems?
 Exit ticket
I think it
Reconsider your personal perspective depends
on the initial scenario. Has anything on...
from the sources or discussions
changed your mind, or confirmed your
opinions? My partner
made the
Write a short paragraph. Include your point that...
reasons.

At first, I ...but then I When I heard

thought... realised... that...
 IGCSE GP
Out of the Box
from

www.igcseglobalperspectives.net