Rationally, I understand the need for and the benefits of differentiation. Every person is different. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. But I am not a teenager. I am a grown man, and I feel that I have a well-developed sense of self-worth. I rarely crave the approval of others to validate myself. Unfortunately, teenagers are much more emotional than adults. This is not a simple stereotype; it is how our brains grow. The prefrontal cortex which controls reasoning, impulse control, and emotional regulation finally matures in our mid to late twenties (National Institute of Mental Health). High school students are not in control of their emotions because they are not old enough.
This concerns me because every week the news seems to report on teen depression or anxiety or some other mental health epidemic that is sweeping our schools. According to a CDC report from 2021, thirty percent of teenage girls and fifteen percent of boys considered committing suicide (Gecker, 2023). I had no idea the problem was so severe. I look at my classes and mentally count out how many would have suicidal ideation if these numbers hold for my students. I say this because I worry that if I do too much differentiation, my students will notice that their “dumber” classmates are getting different assignments. It feels like a recipe for more bullying and resentment. Where I live, I am an outsider. I get differentiated treatment from everybody; shopkeepers to bankers to police officers. I know the feeling of being singled out even when there is no malice. They only want to help me succeed, but I wish they would stop overtly acknowledging I am different. We both know I am different, no need to point it out all the time.
I might be worrying about nonsense. Maybe the academic success developed using good differentiation is enough to make up for any potential social stigmas. I know my son does not care that he needs a pool noodle for swim lessons. Perhaps teenagers are more mentally and emotionally secure than I’ve been led to believe due to all the drama and handwringing presented in the media.
The Keasy Depot 