April 24, 2025
from Mark Segal, Upper School director
Mark Your Calendars
- Friday, April 25: MS/US Robotics Team Banquet, 5-8 PM, Family Commons
- Friday, May 2: US Art and Pop Fair, 3:30-6 PM, US Hallway and Commons
- Friday, May 2: New Family Panther Party, 4-5:30 PM, MPA Campus
- Saturday, May 3: US Prom, 8-11:30 PM, Has location been determined for online calendar?
- Monday, May 5: MS/US Students & Screens Parent Meeting, 1:45-3 PM, Recital Hall
- Tuesday, May 6: Senior Project: Empty Bowls, 4:30-6:30 PM, Family Commons
- Thursday, May 8: MS/US Orchestra Concert, 7-8:30 PM, Nicholson Center
- Wednesday, May 14: MPA PA Gender Inclusive School Parent and Ally Meeting, 6-8 PM, Family Commons and Panther Center
- Thursday, May 15: MS/US Band Concert, 7-8:30 PM, Nicholson Center
In almost three decades of working with students I would like to think that I have seen almost everything. Early in my career I helped a student who “accidentally” had a pencil stuck through their tongue and needed to convince their parent that they should see a doctor even though they believed “that the mouth heals quickly,” I got a student from their athletic practice to let them know that their parent had been in a plane crash (one that they were flying) and needed to “protect” them from the media frenzy that would soon follow the accident, and I convinced a student to hand over multiple sets of brass knuckles that were in their possession as they would not need them “for protection.” I, however, recently found myself wrapped up in and deeply affected by the four-part Netflix series, “Adolescence,” as it hit home not just as a school administrator, but also as the parent of a teenage boy.
The series was released in late March and since then, according to IMDb, has become third most watched Netflix series ever with more than 120 million views in over 80 countries. Parents of teenagers across the world are taking notice of the hard-hitting drama that offers a compelling and chilling lens into the world of male teenage identity. The series, each episode shot in one take, has garnered significant attention from educators and mental health professionals and presents an unflinching look at how young men navigate their high school years and construct their identities in today’s challenging social environment. An article in Parenting magazine this week shares, “the story is framed around online radicalization, it also forces us to confront below-the-surface things we overlook: what happens when boys are taught to hide what they feel, to bury their hurt, and to mistake detachment for strength.”
The series’ strength lies in its ability to showcase how a young adult isn’t being deliberately ignored; rather he is just flying under the radar. It explores his relationships with his peers, teachers, and the massive disconnect between Generation X parents and their Generation Alpha children. A 2022 study in Educational Psychology Review shared, “that when adults understand and acknowledge the complexity of male adolescent experience, boys are more likely to seek help when faced with emotional or social challenges.”
If you haven’t seen “Adolescence” yet, I suggest you consider setting aside a few hours to watch it as it is a powerful and profound perspective on teens. The series does not offer an answer but rather presents various possibilities and perspectives as “food for thought” for its audience.
I consider myself extremely fortunate to be part of a community that doesn’t just push difficult subjects like those portrayed in “Adolescence” aside but rather finds ways to build community to provide a space where individuals can lean-in to their discomfort together. Next Monday, May 5, MPA will hold a discussion entitled Boys and Social Media: Practical Takeaways. The discussion will include MPA parent and criminologist Dr. James Densley who will help those in attendance “unpack the manosphere’s echo chambers, body image “hacks,” AI deepfakes, gaming cultures, and the performance of violence online.
I look forward to listening and learning alongside of you and to seeing you on campus soon.
Important Information
-
- If your student will be absent, late, or needs to be excused early from school, please reach out to upper school administrative assistant, Chanda Williams, on cwilliams@moundsparkacademy.org.
Tickets for this wonderful performance can be purchased here. There are three performances scheduled: - Thursday, April 24 at 7 PM
- Saturday, April 26 at 7 PM
- Sunday, April 27 at 2 PM
- In today’s attention economy, every scroll, like, and algorithmic nudge shapes how young men and boys see themselves and the world. Drawing on nearly two decades of research and themes from Netflix’s hit show “Adolescence,” award-winning criminologist and MPA parent Dr. James Densley unpacks the manosphere’s echo chambers, body‑image “hacks,” AI deepfakes, gaming cultures, emoji‑shorthand, and the performance of violence online. Parents and students will leave with clear, practical takeaways, including how to build digital literacy, bolster emotional resilience, and foster healthy offline connections in an always‑on social media landscape. If you are interested in joining this community discussion, please RSVP here.
