1993-1994 Harry Singer Foundation National Essay Contest

Doesn't Anyone Care About The Children?

Bondurant-Farrar High School, Bondurant, Iowa

Teacher: Sally Norton

1st Jamee Krug 2nd Shannon Enos 3rd Justin Lockwood

"One example of irresponsible behavior involves a classmate of mine. He began drinking about a half year ago. It began as a way to socialize and fit in with the others. His drinking gradually grew into a larger problem. He began drinking more and more often. One night he came home and passed out on the floor. His mother and father found him, and they were very disappointed in his actions. He is a very intelligent guy---he was just irresponsible getting drunk all the time. It finally caught up with him. He has stopped being responsible. He has become an alcoholic."
Kimber Linn, Bondurant-Farrar High School, Bondurant, Iowa

  "We need to urge the government to stop spending billions of dollars to track down drug shipments, and start spending it on establishing drug courts to put low-level offenders into treatment rather than jail."
Victoria Hintz, Bondurant-Farrar High School, Bondurant, Iowa

"Not all parents, however, are irresponsible and don't pay child support. My parents have been divorced since 1985. My father started out just like the rest of these deadbeat dads. He didn't pay child support for two years. He then moved into a new house, remarried and began paying double what was needed to make up for back pay. My uncle is also divorced. He religiously pays child support, but also does more. He doesn't only want to be a check in his child's life. He attends every sporting event, doctor appointment, and even schedules his son's hair appointments. My father's neighbor is also divorced. She not only pays child support and visits her children regularly, she also volunteers at the school and is president of the PTA."
Shannon Enos, Bondurant-Farrar High School, Bondurant, Iowa