The first article by Mike Males was a very interesting topic to read about. It is always interesting to see how the media changes and shapes popular thinking in American culture. Males does an excellent job of debunking many of the made-up myths that attack teenagers in today's society. It is amazing to see how badly the media takes numbers and uses them to their liking. Throughout the article facts are construed by various media sources to "enlighten" the public about the growing number of teenage pregnancies and teen deaths and drug use. I think what is more interesting are the people who put out these facts. The reports usually have an agenda behind them. The purpose is usually political. If the centers and institutes can get politicians to read their reports and be shocked by the numbers the more likely they will listen to their money-making schemes at the end of the report on how to "combat" these social ills. These same politicians can be blamed for not fighting the true source of these alarming facts, poverty and unhealthy living environments. If children are kept in these situations it will increase their liklihood to become exactly what the stats say they will. But the current wave of treatment only provides short-term care which puts students in classes or therapy. Of course this is exactly what the researchers want the politicians to push! They make so much money from it!
It's really like a wheel of death. The media puts out alarming reports on TV, the politicians now need to respond, so the private sector publishes more reports for the politicians to reference and get support for their bill. But then the media picks up on the NEW numbers and the cycle continues. It really allows for the racket to continue in a never-ending motion.

The Giroux article was not as interesting to me as the first. It does shed light on the beauty pagaent industry and the problems that little girls face during and after these events. Throughout the text Giroux says that these girls are not given freedom to be kids, but are pushed into roles of being the "principal incitemtent of adult desire." This is just wrong. Placing kids in these situations does not let them develop with a very clear lense to the world. They are shadowed by makeup, hairspray, and sequense(?). Spending all their time prepping themselves and their "skills" doesnt allow for play and self-discovery that comes from interacting with people of the same age, in a non-adult evironment.
The article ends with some suggestions, and I saw atleast one that I will be able to take on. Giroux says that teachers need to tell students to look at media adverstising critically. I think I could do this as a social studies teacher. From the beginning of advertising their is always a message, going through recent history I could have students look at the ads of the time period and explain what is going on and what the producers want us to think from it.

What are some other ways that we, as future educators, can do in order to show our students the power of media and adversting?
How can we help the students think critically about culture?

Puberty

This chapter did a great job of informing me of the various pubertal processes and the impacts made on an adsolescent's life, both physically and emotionally. This information is very useful to have when thinking about how kids behave in school.
The authors bring up a great point when explaining the troubles that arise in current research. Parents, kids, and educators don't really like to talk the subject. It is an awkward stage of human life in which we all have a different way handling.
The authors go through the physical changes that happen during puberty later in the text. This is interesting info to go over a review. The authors do point out new research that shows brain growth through midadolesence. This means that the mind is expanding. What a great time to fill the vast, new expanse with knowledge!
I was very interested in the section on the timing of maturation. The article talks about how some of the negative consequences of early maturation. These include poor emotional health and engaging in adult activities.
The chapter explains how gender roles are intensified during adolescence. This is easy to see in a Middle School. This is the time when kids start to take note of the opposite sex. Boys and girls are passing notes to eachother, starting new "relationships," and awkwardly talking to each other.
The last part of the text the authors tell us the implications which puberty has on education. They say that sex ed courses need to be given to all children, in 5th or 6th grade. They also tell us that puberty may influence school achievement. This is also easy to see. If a kid is having and emotional breakdown and hardtime, he or she will not be focused on school work. They will deal with their emotions, possibly in a harmful way.
I think this chapter was a good overview of puberty and how it works with the mind and body. This knowledge is especially useful when dealing with Middle Schoolers. I do not think that this chapter is really neccesary knowledge that I need to memorize, it will be useful though to have a background in how to deal with this issue.