BARBARA, arts, educational & cultural consultant: Your young person has a lot to think about, sort out and talk about. Their "his" mones, "her" mones and hormones are adding to the "I’ve gotta be me, whoever that is" equation.

The teen years are an awkward time for some and a seemingly awful time for others. Those wonder years just aren’t so wonderful. But, with over 10 years of junior high school teaching behind me, I know peer pressure really matters. And teen idols matter.

Except for the rare teen, parental opinion is not high on a teen’s list, so you have to try some new tactics. Give them reasons that matter to them and remember, like ice cream flavors, not all young adults are alike.

My friend Elsie L., from the Main Line, had this to offer:

Gym gives you an opportunity to exercise and develop the body you want. For instance, Britney Spears and Beyonce are two people teenagers want to be like. Emphasize that to look like them, it will help to start in high school. Besides, some guys love athletic girls and vice versa.

Fashions tend to play an important role in young people’s lives, especially if they can look like their peers. By focusing on this somewhat frivolous aspect to us adults, many teenagers would gladly go to the gym class. If they thought that gym would make or keep their thighs firm for mini-skirts and tight jeans, then they might see the value.

Then there’s the realistic approach which promotes the health benefits one can gain from good habits formed early. The rewards are better agility, improved strength and energy.

Another ploy is to point out that gym is a graduation requirement, and you don’t want it to ruin your class rank.

Aside from these and other mind altering strategies, some schools offer alternatives to the traditional gym class, including, basketball, volleyball, co-ed gym, relaxed dress-codes, dance, fencing, and more. The educators who think outside the box may have the solution.

Finally, if all else fails, you might want to resort to bribery. Just kidding! Posted October 08, 2003 02:48 AM