Thriving, Not Just Surviving, in Adolescence is Theme of Four-Day Summer Institute for Educators

More than 70 adolescent girls will join together with 80 educators, counselors and health professionals from across the United States at Smith College July 15-18 to discuss and develop strategies for helping girls navigate the many physical and emotional obstacles they can face during their teenage years.

During the three-day 1999 Summer Institute for Educators, the participants will explore issues that can stifle teenage girls' development, such as stress, depression, sexism in and out of the classroom, eating disorders and unplanned pregnancy.

On July 16, at 8 p.m., the public is invited to hear Michael Resnick, professor of pediatrics and adolescent medicine at the University of Minnesota, give the program's keynote address, "Girls and Young Women: Thriving Not Just Surviving Adolescence" in Wright Hall Auditorium. Resnick, who is director of the National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Research Center, has written numerous papers and articles on the health and well-being of adolescents including "Health and Risk Behaviors of Urban Adolescent Males Involved in Pregnancy," "Chronic Physical and Social Conditions of Youth," and "The Impact of Caring and Connectedness on Adolescent Health and Well-being."

The institute will also include an interactive workshop, "Succeeding at Fairness," facilitated by noted educator David Sadker, who, with his late wife Myra Sadker, authored "Failing at Fairness: How America's Schools Cheat Girls," a book that has gained wide attention since its 1995 publication. Sadker will challenge institute participants to brainstorm effective ways to support girls in all facets of their community involvement.

"If you want to talk about girls succeeding, you have to talk about more than just girls in the classroom," notes institute co-director Gail Scordilis, who also directs the college's Summer Science Program.

Also as part of the institute, participating teenage girls will present the first edition of an innovative resource manual, "Our Health, Our Futures: A Project By and For Adolescent Girls," written and produced by the girls in conjunction with health professionals and educators, with funding provided by MetLife, Inc.

For more information on the 1999 Summer Institute for Educators, contact Casey Clark at (413) 585-3804, Gail Scordilis at (413) 585-3879, or Laurie Fenlason at (413) 585-2190.

July 7, 1999