appears to be all “ uns” : undisciplined, unpredictable, uninhibited, unmanageable, unstable, etc. Of this adoles cent Richard Armour wrote: A mind? Yes he Has one of those. It comes, however, And it goes. And if, when it Is called upon, It mostly happens To be gone, Don’t fret, don’t shout, Don’t curse the lack; Just wait a while— It will be back! A Junior High is a person with a problem, not neces sarily a problem person as so many people characterize him. He is caught up in a cycle of many changes which sometimes sets up a chain reaction. For instance, during adolescence the basic concepts of a Junior High are changing, thus there may be problems of unbelief. His concept of God, prayer, right and wrong have been given him by others; now he is seeking his own philosophy. In the earnest pursuit of getting an education, he may be disturbed or confused by the study of science in school. If his inquiring mind has not had his questions answered with satisfaction, doubts are produced at a time when this teenager needs the security of a strong faith.
W h a t does your mind conjure up when you hear the words, “ He’s a Junior High?” Some people think of him as a juvenile; others call him “ that adolescent.” Neighbors have said of him, “ Only his mother could love him, his father just endures him.” Many church folk call him an “ intermediate,” or “ in- betweener.” Still others just shrug their shoulders and Yes, a Junior High is a person, a very real person. He is 12, 13, or 14 years of age and usually is in the seventh, eighth, or ninth grade in public school. He seems espe cially different from persons of every other age—and he is different! He is even different from those his own age. No two Junior Highs are alike. Why is this? The answer is simple: each youth has his own growth rate, no two hitting the same step at the same time. Then, too, the intellectual, social and psychological influence of our modem culture affects the Junior High’s mental growth, behavior and personality in a very real way. The changes which take place in the human being during the Junior High age make it the most critical period of life. It is the time when all the energies of life are at flood tide, when all the vital forces usually acquire the direction they will keep during the rest of life. A Junior High is a paradox: an adult one moment, a child the next; intelligent and capable, but undepend able; enthusiastic, then lethargic; trusting one day, cynical the next. He defies authority to attract attention and conforms to the group to be accepted. He would rather be dead than be different. To most adults he avoid him as much as possible. What is a Junior High really?
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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