Education Exchange: Helping Teens Develop a Sense of Purpose

In an article in last week’s Wall Street Journal, Clare Ansberry made the case for “Why Teens Need a Sense of Purpose.” She quotes William Damon of the Stanford Center on Adolescence who says that developing a sense of purpose is one of the most important but overlooked aspects of adolescent development.

In this week’s episode, Paul Peterson talks with William Damon about his his work on how young people develop a sense of purpose and what schools can do to help.

Damon is the author of The Path to Purpose: Helping Our Children Find Their Calling in Life. Nathan Glazer reviewed the book for Ed Next in 2009. Damon has written for Education Next about how teachers can help instill a sense of purpose in their students.

Follow The Education Exchange on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or here on Education Next.

— Education Next

Last Updated

NEWSLETTER

Notify Me When Education Next

Posts a Big Story

Program on Education Policy and Governance
Harvard Kennedy School
79 JFK Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Phone (617) 496-5488
Fax (617) 496-4428
Email Education_Next@hks.harvard.edu

For subscription service to the printed journal
Phone (617) 496-5488
Email subscriptions@educationnext.org

Copyright © 2024 President & Fellows of Harvard College