Adolescence

Adolescence: The Sacred Passage Inspired by the Legend of Parzival

“The community of adults in a high school environment is a community of trust in which we need to foster hope, belief in positive change, and commitment to serve the highest good. This is our charge and we must never forget it. We have the responsibility to  believe in the capacity for change, for maturing, for transformation in every young person we serve. When these qualities live in the souls of the adults in a high school community, adolescents can thrive, can meet their own dark night of the soul and come through it into the light.

Fairy tales, myths, and legends express deep truths. This is also true of the story of Parzival. . . . By unpeeling the layers of the story and opening them up for examination, I hope the reader will gain insight into the teen age years.” – Betty Staley

Setting out on the journey of adolescence is like taking a boat into turbulent waters, not knowing where one will end up. Will the boat capsize or find its bearing? Where is the rudder?

The community of adults in a high school environment is a community of trust in which we need to foster hope, belief in positive change, and commitment to serve the highest good. This is a teacher’s charge, and one must never forget it.

Teachers are responsible for believing in adolescents’ capacity for change and maturing and for transformation. When these qualities live in the souls of teachers in a high school community, adolescents are able to thrive and to face their own dark night of the soul and to pass through it and into the light.

This is an invaluable resource for teachers, as well as for parents and homeschooling. It offers the possibility of offering order and guidance for adolescents as they navigate the chaos of being teenagers on the verge of adulthood.

About the Author

Betty Staley has been a Waldorf teacher for more than thirty-five years. She directs the Foundation Year and Waldorf High School programs at Rudolf Steiner College. In addition, she has been active in programs for public school teachers and teachers of At-Risk students there. She founded the Multi-cultural Committee of AWSNA.