Changing the Way we think about Teens

I'm at the end of my series on adolescence, the book by Robert Epstein called The Case Against Adolescence:Rediscovering the Adult in Every Teen. I know, it wasn't all one smooth series but so much else is going on so apologies!
The last idea Epstein leaves us with is the idea that we can change our perspective on how we view the teen-age years- a period of growth that was largely set in motion during the period of massive population growth in the Industrial Revolution.

Epstein explains throughout his book that our views today on teens are determined by messages the media sources and thought leaders serve us daily. You know, the 'reckless, 'lazy', 'violent teen' messages.
"Our views can reasonably be conceived of as a kind of irrational prejudice programmed by our culture-almost precisely the kind that mainstream Americans bore towards women and blacks until very recent times," says Epstein.
We can change this backward way of thinking. We are nothing if not creatures of change.
"Adolescence as we know it in the US should be abolished, and we should stop exporting this dysfunctional period of life to other countries," Epstein continues.

In my opinion, the best place to start would be to abolish compulsory schooling- an outmoded strategy of education. Get the kids in with the adults; let them talk to adults, hang out with them,learn along side them and take their cues from them rather than from their peers.

"The time has come to end the isolation {from adults}. Young and old, we will all benefit by restoring the child-adult continuum that existed through most of human history in industrialized nations and that still exists in preindustrial societies today. The teen years need to be what they used to be: a time not just of learning, but of learning to be responsible adults," concludes Epstein.

What we need then is more avenues, more opportunities for this to take place-for adults and kids to come face to face in meaningful ways. Take your kid to school day won't cut it.
I want to hear your ideas and experiences on what can be done (what is being done) to restore the continuum. Please write in.