The Rite Journey: Rediscovering Rites of Passage for Boys

The Rite Journey is a program to allow Australian Year-9 male students age 14-15 years to share a year-long partnership with a teacher-guide as the boy explores what it means to become a respectful and responsible man. Given the current view that rites of passage need to be rediscovered for young people in Western culture, a feature of the program is specially created ceremonies held throughout the year. These celebration points follow the seven steps of a hero's journey. Curricular content is based on four topics: relationships with self, others, the divine and the world. This paper recounts the program's background and form and includes feedback of boys who have participated in the program.