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How's school? Helping your teenager get the most out of high school

As a child, I used to love reading my favourite Walt Disney comic books. The stories from which I derived the greatest pleasure usually centred around Scrooge McDuck, the wealthy, eccentric, millionaire duck who sought constantly to protect his wealth from the criminal wiles of those who wished to steal the contents of the giant safe. Another character who occasionally made an appearance in the comic books was the inventor Gyro Gearloose, whose sole interest was inventing a myriad of weird and wonderful contraptions found only within the pages of comic books. I sometimes wonder if today’s parents do not find themselves torn between these two fanciful, fictional comic book characters, in their attempts to either protect their cherished investments (teenagers) from the difficulties of a world which, in some ways, may threaten to consume them; or alternatively, invent fresh ways of dealing with problems which were perhaps non-existent, or at least less prevalent in previous generations. Stepping aside from the world of fantasy, How’s School? Helping Your Teenager Get the Most Out of High School, does not aim to protect your teenagers by locking them in a vault, nor does it claim to present a ‘wacky, new-fangled’ approach to parenting. Instead, it presents a frank, open and honest look at the issues facing parents currently raising teenagers in the 21st century, and offers a commonsense approach for parents who wish to take an active and influential role in the lives of their teens. How’s School? encourages parents to realise the power they have in the lives of their teenagers, and also suggests ways in which they are able to utilise that power to achieve the best possible outcomes. Parent power is described as ‘an ever-present force, an invisible thread connecting parents and children’ (p. 3). Shale presents a compelling argument regarding the power of parents when she states, ‘with a word, a look, a touch, you have the power to build up your children or tear them down, to make them feel accepted or rejected’ (p. 3). Building a solid relationship with your teen is viewed as crucial, and parents are strongly advised to make time for their teens, to be there for them, and to remain positive, taking notice of and sharing in the joy and excitement of the fun times. It is also recommended that parents communicate with other parents, and also teachers, regarding their teenager’s progress and overall well-being. The importance of the parental role in building the self-esteem of the teenager, by means of acceptance, praise, and empowerment is significantly highlighted when one considers the potential effects of low self-esteem. Such effects include a vulnerability to ‘peer pressure, stress, depression, high risk-taking and even suicide’ (p. 15). For par133