It took me a long time to publish this essay by a teenager. But now, I think, the time has come when parents are increasingly thinking about what school “gives” and what it “takes” away from their children. The essay will help parents see through the eyes of a teenager how the classroom “works” and what relationships are built in it.
Two years ago, a 14-year-old student of mine sent an essay that began with the words: “A school can be divided into four social layers: the 'alienated', 'the' masses', 'aristocrats' and 'elite' (working titles).” I couldn't believe my eyes! The teenager, on his own initiative and completely independently, conducted a small “sociological study”, drawing on his own experience and that of friends to substantiate the reasons for mobbing! And he saw the reasons in the stratification of classes into groups — “social layers”, within which a hierarchy is established, where there is a place for violence against individuals. He determined that hierarchical relations are also often built between “social layers”. At the same time, moving from group to group is almost impossible, but being outside any of the groups is fraught with exclusion for a teenager. And children and adolescents aged 10-15 are in dire need of being recognized by the team, as they are age identified through group membership. This is why children agree to any “role” in their company so as not to get thrown out of it.
I think that this division, named by Leo as one of the reasons for mobbing, actually takes place in modern schools. I will suggest that students have always been stratified according to different criteria (material criteria, parents' affiliation with the nomenclature), but nowadays there are new reasons for dividing children into groups that compete with each other, harassing children from other groups. It should be noted that the groups themselves also have a hierarchy, which is a breeding ground for mobbing. Such groups always have leaders, their assistants and “sixes”. And the fate of the “sixes” is sad. These guys get broken down, and over time they come to terms with their role of being a busboy and doing, at times, the most unpleasant assignments. Many children stay outside groups, but then they need to have a very strong immune system to determine their individual behavior strategy and try to avoid contact with children from groups or “social groups”. But even this path is fraught with injury. I know girls who have become hardened in their relentless struggle against the elite of their class. But what did it cost them! Adults have already admitted to me that their practicality and cynicism come from childhood.
When I read Lev's essay to the children, everyone supported him, confirming that such a division exists. One girl admitted that she had to “deserve” the attention of the “elite” for a whole year — she wanted to become as inaccessible as they were. When her classmates finally accepted her into their group, she realized she had lost herself but had gained nothing. After realizing this, she broke down and had to undergo a year of therapy with a psychologist. Of course she had to leave school. And she admitted to me that she doesn't even want to remember what she went through then to become “at home among strangers”. Another teenager, approving the results of Leo's study, said that for this reason he prefers to be alone and doesn't let anyone near him. And the girl said she'd rather be a leader in her group than be a “six”. She admitted that as a leader she had to rot her bandmates more than once. She said, “I'm better off them than they're me.” “But you're not in the zone!” — I was indignant. “Who told you?” - she whispered back.
I believe that teachers, social workers, school psychologists and parents should take into account the results of this adolescent study. I don't think school staff are unaware of such a school phenomenon. But it seems to me that most teachers and parents do not attach importance to this, because they believe that these groups, like cases of violence among teenagers, are normal phenomena and an integral part of school life and a child's growing up. As long as we think so, our children will suffer in silence. They will be among the “alienated” or the “six”. And if we take violence and personal suppression as the norm, society's system of unshakable values will not include the individual's right to self-determination, to express opinions, and to maintain self-esteem for a long time to come.
We are reading a study by Lev Ivanov, which makes us think.
The social stratum (hereinafter referred to as the social stratum) is a large group of people in society characterized by certain characteristics (set out below).
The school can be divided into 4 social layers: “alienated”, “masses”, “aristocrats” and “elite” (working names).
Each social layer is characterized by:
Attitudes towards social welfare are sometimes influenced by:
Attitudes towards social welfare are not affected by:
There are four social strata: “alienated”, “masses”, “aristocrats” and “elite”.
“Alienated”
A characteristic feature of the “alienated” is detachment from society. As a rule, they stay either alone or in small groups (up to 5 people). The alienated are divided into two groups (not to be confused with positions!)
The estranged may have acquaintances and contact people, but they will always keep their distance (by themselves, their companion, or both).
“Mass”
As a rule, it is the largest social stratum. They can be described as a “hodgepodge” among all those outside the social strata. As a rule, they do not have a hard and firm position; in most cases, critical thinking is absent, and if so, they are usually unable to apply it. Character is rarely or never “shown”.
The Aristocrats
An alternative (but not opposition!) elites. It differs from it in that it does not emphasize its uniqueness with material things and does not try to vehemently isolate themselves from society.
Elita (Ilita, Elite)
“The Cream of Society”, “The Chosen Ones” “Top Class” a priori. They exist in cultivating themselves (sometimes on a subconscious level). They try to emphasize their “uniqueness” in various ways:
Some positions on certain things are extremely harsh, sometimes even diametrically opposed (ardent Zozhniki or Decadents (Hozhniki); (cynics or Mother Teresa).
In such ways, he is trying to isolate others from entering his social sector.
Each social sector includes a large group of people who are very different from each other, so social strata are divided into smaller groups and positions.
Positions — a smaller taxon that is part of the social stratum, showing the situation within it.
Each social sector is divided into four positions, referred to by the same names as social layers, as it has features specific to the social layer. This unusual method avoids the following situation:
“Basically, he belongs to the elite, but he often stays alone. He's more of an elite, but he looks so much like an “alienated” person.
Since there are few typical social representatives, positions are used to eliminate the dilemma regarding affiliation. Roughly speaking, positions are needed to say this: “he is something between “elite” and “alienated”, but he has more features of an “elite”, so he is “alienated elite”.
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