1820 teen as an adjective or noun; 1895 teener; 1925 teenage – adjective or noun; 1955 teenaged.
My
guess is adults. They worked, raised families, went to college and fought wars.
I believe today many of the people those ages
have too much time on their hands and do not know what to do with it. They sit
home alone while both parents work to give them things, wander the streets, or
hang around in gangs. More young
people should strive to help their family and study hard to make something good
of themselves for their future family and our nation.
I know we cannot, in our society, have people
who are in their teen years doing all that was done back previous to a hundred
years ago, but we could give them more responsibility. Then they can feel as if
they were part of society and not just in ‘in between years’ waiting to grow
up.
Update 2022: During the past couple decades; I
have known parents who have looked at their child-rearing years as ‘raising
future adults’. Each of those families has succeeded in their effort and I
watched their children become responsible adults without a lot of heartache.
I have wanted to share this for a long time but being I did not have a ‘solution’ to the situation, did not know how to do so. But, the last two mornings on the radio show Focus on the Family, there was a man talking about Parenting Teens Toward Adulthood. It was a two-part program. I would suggest that if you have children that you listen to these programs. He has a solution to the dilemma parents seem to be facing today!
[1] Teenager – teenage – adj – or noun – b1925; teen – adj – or noun b1820; teener – 1895; teenaged – b1955; teen – v – annoy – b 1150 – English Through the Ages by William Brohaugh
Websters: P. 1211
