1995-1996 Harry Singer Foundation National Essay Contest
Responsibility Who Has It And Who Doesn't
And What That Means For The Nation
Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
Teacher : John Hendricks
1st Gina
Durham 
2nd Chantele
Olsen 
3rd Joey Reinbolt3rd Jennifer
Whitaker
"In Rockford Connecticut a small community of concerned parents held a huge yard
sale so they could raise money to put in an arcade for their kids so they wouldn't have to
join a gang and could hangout and have fun in their own community. I Chicago there is a
group of people who take inner-city kids and pulls them off the streets and away from
gangs by offering them a chance to learn a new skill and by teaching them how to play
sports and have fun instead of joining gangs. A California community has started a watch
to look out for gangs and when a gang enters their community they immediately know to
leave because they don't want to have trouble from the whole community so the gang stay
away from the community and their kids. In Polk County, Florida they had an auction to
raise money so they could build an activity center for their youth so they won't have to
join any gangs and can have fun with their lives instead of maybe dying way to soon if
they joined a gang. The last example of people getting together and trying to solve the
gang problem around them happened in Texas where celebrities visit kids at school and tell
them the problems with gangs and why they shouldn't join them and that they should grow up
and make something of their life."
Joey Reinbott, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"My personal solution to the problem of irresponsibility requires work on the part
of the child and also a lot of work on the parent's part. Children need to be given
responsibilities as soon as they are old enough to understand them. They should be given
responsibilities in the form of chores. You should give your child chores such as cleaning
their room. Seasonal chores are good too, like mowing the lawn and bringing in wood. But
the catch to this solution is the part of the parents. As parents, you have to make sure
the children are keeping these responsibilities. If a child is not keeping up their
responsibilities, then disciplinary action should be taken. And when their
responsibilities are kept up, then they should be rewarded."
Gina Durham, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"Responsibility is best defined as being able to choose for oneself between right
and wrong or to be liable to be called upon to answer for one's acts or decisions."
Chantele Oelson, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"Parents tell their children, 'Don't have sex before marriage,' or 'Practice safe
sex.' Some go so far as to deny that their child is sexually active, so they don't have to
give any sexual advice to the child at all."
Amanda-Jo Boyd, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"As an American watching the media today, we see that people are wondering why
they don't have answers to their questions, why their lives are in turmoil due to divorce
and violence in the home. They have so much conflict in their lives and so they try to
search for inner peace. A lot of people just live life day by day trying to handle what
comes their way and when they can't they turn to such things such as drugs, alcohol, and
sexual pleasures for what they think is comfort. People, for the most part, are starting
to realize that they need something solid to base their lives upon and live for."
Amanda Lynne Brown, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"Teenagers think it's cool because everyone else is doing it."
Erik Cannon, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"I read the other day in the paper about a man who was suing a fertilizer company.
He cleaned his fertilizer buckets by his well. He cleaned the buckets by his well since
that is where the hose was located. He contaminated his water supply and got sick. He is
suing the company because the label failed to warn people not to clean the buckets by
their wells."
Sarah Clendenin, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"A world with 'perfect' people would be quite boring."
Andrea Cowan, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"Part of the problem of freedom of speech is the definition. The definition of
freedom of speech is so broad that if it is taken the wrong way could prove to be very
destructive. In it's own way the freedom of speech amendment could and can allow people to
get away with many injustices. While most often, the First Amendment is used for good
purposes such as informative columns and educational speeches, often lawyers use it to
manipulate juries into letting people get away with 'murder'."
Becky Cunningham, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"The problem in many cases is a total disregard for the dangers of alcohol and
drug use, for example; parents who drink and in other instances actually use drugs right
in front of their son or daughter. When a child sees this they will probably think one of
two things; that it is all right to do it, because their parent is setting the example,
or; that it might make them look older or more mature."
Matt DuBois, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"A friend of mine came to school the other day with a black eye from her father
over a stupid argument that was nothing more than a misunderstanding. My best friend is
one of the most popular girls in school, but at home she is nothing short of a slave, and
something for her stepfather to yell at. The list goes on and on of kids in my school
alone who are somehow abused by parents at home. The only thing is that they think it is
normal. Child abuse is not normal. Parents need to start taking responsibility for their
own actions, and for their kids."
Kirsten Glidewell, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"Every week names [of those] who have been issued a [speeding] ticket [are]
written in the paper in my home town."
Sarah Jenkins, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
". . .another means of eliminating frivolous lawsuits would be. . .continuing
media coverage, and criticism for our judicial system for allowing tax payers dollars to
be wasted on such cases. This solution eventually will help to change the current law. The
last solution is to change the law that currently allowed convicted felons that are
spending time in state and federal prisons to file frivolous lawsuits."
Angie Johns, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"If we outlaw guns, only outlaws will have guns. Then what will we left with to
protect ourselves? This dilemma can't be solved over night, but through time, the problem
can be solved. A sign on a church billboard in Tyler, Texas says it all: The answer is SON
control, not gun control."
Jessica Lebo, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"Many towns have local shelters that will allow women and children to stay from 30
to 60 days and provide counseling services for both. These shelters are safe havens for
millions of women and provide the help they need to get back on their feet again."
Brenda Madison, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"Shaquille O'Neal did a very responsible thing by walking away from a fight with
Mitch Richmond. Shaquille said, 'I do not think that I would be a making a good impression
on the youngsters that might look at me as role model.' In my own opinion that was a
responsible act on O'Neal's behalf."
Ryan McCoy, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"We must convey this message: The responsibility is yours. There are so many ways
to help, pick one. Attack the attitude and involvement will follow."
Michael Nash, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"Exactly who has the responsibility to keep a church a place of worship? . . .Does
the responsibility belong to the congregation to keep attending or to the pastor keep the
services interesting?"
Corinne O'Dell, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"Situations with people trying to be more like others, rather than having their
own unique personality, seems to be a terrible problem that affects a large majority of
teens in our community. Unfortunately this is not our community's problem alone, it is in
fact nation-wide. Why is this. . .happening to so many? Why can't people be happy with
themselves as they are? How far [will] some individuals go just to merely please other
people?"
Amy Roos, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"It is the responsibility of the colleges and the Federal and State governments to
provide financial aid to qualified individuals."
Matthew Aaron Rouse, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"I believe education is the key to any issue-even an issue of ethics. Yes,
everyone feels a bit differently, but we must let someone take responsibility and say 'the
buck stops here'."
Ellen Sapaugh, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"My parents will no longer be able to have their Birkenstock sandals resoled. They
received a letter from Mick Ranney, the owner. He cannot afford to pay insurance for his
workers. The price is too high, for they work with glue fumes and sharp objects. Another
example of high insurance costs eliminating services has occurred in the roofing business.
The job is considered so dangerous that [insurance] makes it financially impossible for
small business to continue to operate."
Erika Swanson, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"The government has tried many ways to create some type of welfare reform. They
have been successful in some of these solutions, but they still struggle with the abuse.
My solution to this problem can be summed up in one sentence: Our society must take pride
in themselves. There are too many people in today's society that have low self-esteem.
These people take on the attitude that they are not capable of excelling in today's world;
therefore, they do not even try. Our society is partially at fault for this growing
attitude. Instead of laughing and putting people down for failing, we should encourage
them. Maybe then people will begin to take pride in themselves and learn that welfare is
not the answer to life."
Jennifer Whitaker, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"When I was five years old my parents never locked the house unless we went out of
town for a vacation or a long trip. I remember one day my dad couldn't find the keys to
his new truck, and my dad hardly ever loses anything. So that night we went to bed as
usual. But something was [wrong] the next morning; our truck was gone. Someone had stolen
our truck. So Dad called the police. Later that day they had found our truck a couple of
miles past the bowling alley on Highway 19. It had been wrecked. To get right to the
point, my parents had been real irresponsible . the people that stole the truck had walked
right in the front door and took the keys to our truck off the dining room table. They
told the police that my dad deserved it because he had left everything unlocked. Now we
lock everything all the time no matter what."
Shawn Wood, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri