STAGE OF

ADOLESCENT COMMUNITY

Who am I? Help me find out what I am good at

The adolescent stage (12–16 years old) is the beginning of the creation of the social person. It is important for the school to provide not only the conditions that allow adolescents to develop their work but also to accompany them from an emotional point of view.

Characteristics and needs of this stage

In the Adolescent Community stage, three major needs are identified:the need to be part of a group, to serve society, and to perform paid work. 

In the case of the human tendency to be part of a group, it is important that it be an inclusive group where each person can be who he/she is. During adolescence, self-knowledge is deepened in order to build one's own identity and participate directly in the real world.

Maria Montessori also said that in adolescence there is a need to serve society, to feel useful, and to contribute actively, for example, through volunteering. It is the time when the person who will act in society and how he or she will act in society are developing. ​Finally, the third need of adolescents is to do paid work that allows them to learn about financial independence and the process of entrepreneurship, prepare a budget, and decide where the funds obtained from their work will go.

How we work in the environment

The Adolescent Community stage has integrated spaces in its environment, such as a carpentry workshop and a kitchen, which allow them to develop skills that enhance their independence and their transition to adulthood. 
The adolescents are in the process of self-construction to consolidate themselves as social individuals through dialogue and critical analysis of knowledge, as well as work, entrepreneurship, and volunteer experiences. 
This formative stage is developed through a cooperative work structure that encourages both individual development and teamwork. Along with theoretical and practical classes, out-of-school activities and different projects and occupations are carried out that allow an approach to adult life experience.

Characteristics at the end of this stage
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At the end of secondary school, adolescents have achieved the development and learning experiences that will allow them to continue their self-construction process in an autonomous manner. They are able to plan, make decisions, act responsibly in their own lives, and contribute to society for a better world.

"The first duty of an education is to stir up life, but leave it free to develop." 

​María Montessori