On the Threshold of Adolescence : The Struggle for Independence in the Twelfth Year

This book tells the story of how Suzanne, a young Waldorf teacher, struggles to come to grips with the changes her class is going through. The problems she and parents must deal with are given names and faces: Kimberly's drug use, Gordon's smoking and total lack of responsiveness, Lisa's bicycle stunts that lead her into trouble with the police. From a fly-on-the-wall perspective, readers participate in teachers' meetings, parents' evenings, home visits, and conversations between Suzanne and an older, more experienced teacher. As Suzanne learns to cope with her class's transition to adolescence, the reader learns how, as parents, teachers, or friends, we must all adjust our attitudes to accommodate the steps our young people are taking.