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Teen Years GUESTS: Thomas Hine *Social commentator who writes for the Philadelphia Inquirer *Author, The Rise & Fall of the American Teenager (Avon Books, 1999) Kay S. Hymowitz *Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute *Author, Ready or Not: How Treating Children as Small Adults Endangers Their Future and Ours (Free Press, 1999) We haven't always had teenagers-- at least, not the way we think of today. There was a time when people were either children or adults, with no category for 'in-between.' Some have argued that given an information-driven culture and economy, young people need a longer period for development and 'molding;' others see this as an excuse to prolong childhood. Is the American notion of the teen years a necessary period of development, or just a great marketing and fashion concept? Join Melinda Penkava and guests to examine the idea of the American teenager.

Teen Years

Heard on Talk of the Nation

Teen Years

Audio will be available later today.

GUESTS: Thomas Hine *Social commentator who writes for the Philadelphia Inquirer *Author, The Rise & Fall of the American Teenager (Avon Books, 1999) Kay S. Hymowitz *Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute *Author, Ready or Not: How Treating Children as Small Adults Endangers Their Future and Ours (Free Press, 1999) We haven't always had teenagers— at least, not the way we think of today. There was a time when people were either children or adults, with no category for 'in-between.' Some have argued that given an information-driven culture and economy, young people need a longer period for development and 'molding;' others see this as an excuse to prolong childhood. Is the American notion of the teen years a necessary period of development, or just a great marketing and fashion concept? Join Melinda Penkava and guests to examine the idea of the American teenager.