Psychologist Robert Epstein argues in a provocative book, "The Case Against Adolescence," that teens are far more competent than we assume, and most of their problems stem from restrictions placed on them.
By
Hara Estroff Marano, published on March 01, 2007 - last reviewed on May 29, 2007
Unfortunately, the current systems are so entrenched that parents can do little to counter infantilization. No one parent can confer property rights, even though they would be highly motivating. Too often, giving children more responsibility translates into giving them household chores, which just causes more tension and conflict. We have to think beyond chores to meaningful responsibility—responsibility tied to significant rights.
With a competency-based system in place, our focus will start to change. We'll become more conscious of the remarkable things teens can do rather than on culture-driven misbehavior. With luck, we might even be able to abolish adolescence.
The Adolescent Squeeze
Before 1850, laws restricting the behavior of teens were few and far between. Compulsory education laws evolved in tandem with laws restricting labor by young people. Beginning in 1960, the number of laws infantilizing adolescents accelerated dramatically. You may have had a paper route when you were 12, but your children can't.
1600s
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1641 Massachusetts law prohibits people under 16 from "smiting" their parents
1800s
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1836 Massachusetts passes first law requiring minimal schooling for people under 15 working in factories
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1848 Pennsylvania sets 12 as minimum work age for some jobs
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1852 Massachusetts passes first universal compulsory education law in U.S., requires three months of schooling for all young people ages 8-14
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1880s Some states pass laws restricting various behaviors by young people: smoking, singing on the streets, prostitution, "incorrigible" behavior
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1881 American Federation of Labor calls on states to ban people under 14 from working
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1898 World's first juvenile court established in Illinois—constitutional rights of minors effectively taken away
1900s
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1903 Illinois requires school attendance and restricts youth labor
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1918 All states have compulsory education laws in place
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1933 First federal law restricting drinking by young people
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1936 & 1938 First successful federal laws restricting labor by young people,
establishing 16 and 18 as minimum ages for work; still in effect
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1940 Most states have laws in place restricting driving by people under 16
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1968 Supreme Court upholds states' right to prohibit sale of obscene materials
to minors
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1968 Movie rating system established to restrict young people from certain films
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1970s Supreme Court upholds laws restricting young women's right to abortion
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1970s Dramatic increase in involuntary electroshock therapy (ECT) of teens
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1980s Many cities and states pass laws restricting teens' access to arcades and other places of amusement; Supreme Court upholds such laws in 1989
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1980s Courts uphold states' right to prohibit sale of lottery tickets to minors
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1980 to 1998 Rate of involuntary commitment of minors to mental institutions increases 300-400 percent
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1984 First national law effectively raising drinking age to 21
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1988 Supreme Court denies freedom of press to school newspapers
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1989 Missouri court upholds schools' right to prohibit dancing
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1989 Court rules school in Florida can ban salacious works by Chaucer and Aristophanes
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1990s Curfew laws for young people sweep cities and states
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1990s Dramatic increase in use of security systems in schools
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1992 Federal law prohibits sale of tobacco products to minors
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1997 New federal law makes easier involuntary commitment of teens
2000s
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2000+ New laws restricting minors' rights to get tattoos, piercings, and to enter tanning salons spread through U.S.
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2000+ Tougher driving laws sweeping through states: full driving rights obtained gradually over a period of years
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2000+ Dramatic increase in zero-tolerance laws in schools, resulting in suspensions or dismissals for throwing spitballs, making gun gestures with hand, etc.
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2000+ New procedures and laws making it easier to prosecute minors as adults
Currently spreading nationwide:
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