introduction..
In a society where:
- boys are underfathered and their role models feature regularly in the media having made poor choices around drugs, alcohol and women;
- girls are sexualised prematurely and popular media continues to present unobtainable role models;
- young people spend an average of 30 hours a week in front of a screen at the expense of human connection;
- sociologists suggest that adolescence spans 20 years, from 10 years of age to 30...
along comes a powerful educational program which addresses all of these issues as well as celebrating and honoring a young person's transition into beginning adulthood.
The Rite Journey targets Year 9 students, the age that most teachers recognise as 'the year of disengagement'.
The Rite Journey reinvents the traditional process of a Rite of Passage to assist in transforming the adolescent from dependency to responsibility. Peter Ellyard, author of 'Designing 2050' says: "We should vacate the entire curriculum of year 9 in all our schools and introduce initiation - a year long program for preparing for successful responsible adulthood- as a national priority."
The success of The Rite Journey lies in a number of factors:
Continuity. The Rite Journey is part of the students' lives for an entire year. This encourages ongoing development of self-awareness and builds strong, honest and respectful relationships with peers, parents and teachers, over time.
Gender specific programs taught in same gender classrooms allows for role modelling, less distraction and freer discussion.
Strong and rich community connections and support are fostered between students and teacher guides, parents/caregivers and mentors, as well as between the school and parents/caregivers.
The mentoring program providing another valuable adult role model in the young person's life.
Growing up. Students are enabled to approach emerging adulthood with awareness, respect and 'step up' to their new-found responsibility.
Positive cultural change. This year of distinct and celebrated transition from middle school to senior school brings a positive cultural change within schools.
Individuality. The Rite Journey is not a 'one size fits all' program. Each school's staff, design a specific Rite Journey experience for their own students.
Staff Training. The Rite Journey includes a substantial two day staff training, comprehensive support materials along with ongoing assistance. Teachers are trained and empowered to provide The Rite Journey for their students, removing the need for employment of outside providers.
Adaptability. The Rite Journey is successfully being implemented in a range of settings, from a large co-educational independent school with two hundred year nines to a small remote public school with just twelve Year nine students. It can be offered as an intensive over a number of weeks, or most commonly over an entire year or even two, as appropriate.
The Rite Journey has been created by experienced classroom teachers, authors and trainers/presenters drawing on their successes when working with adolescents.
"The Rite Journey is the best model out there for the missing rites
of passage for boys in the contemporary West. It seems to me that
this program should serve as a model for private and public schools
that care about the lives of boys."
Miles Groth, PhD, Editor, THYMOS: Journal of Boyhood Studies.
