1993-1994 Harry Singer Foundation National Essay Contest

Doesn't Anyone Care About The Children?

Teacher: Julie Raknerud

Barnesville High School, Barnesville, Minnesota

1st Clayton Schenck  2nd Chad Harrison 3rd Rebecca Halvorson

“The new plan [requires] one or two full-time directors and several part-timers. With four workers and three pieces of machinery for nine hours, it would cost approximately $120 per hour.
Tonia Cook, Barnesville High School, Barnesville, Minnesota.

 “Many gang members don't want to live the life they live, but the simple fact is, they feel they have no place to turn; they don't know of any other lifestyle. Many of the gangsters are in gangs because all they know is violence. They don't go out and get jobs, because they were not taught the value of a job. Their outlook on life is totally different from others."
Nicole Schepp, Barnesville High School, Barnesville, Minnesota

“Teenagers...are not afraid of the electric chair; they’re afraid of the next day where they could be killed at any time.”
Andy Waller, Barnesville High School, Barnesville, Minnesota

 “I feel that when the child starts to ask questions because he sees guns on television or [elsewhere], it is time to talk. The parents who fail to keep guns out of children's reach should be punished. An ordinance should be passed which would force gun owners to use trigger locks, store weapons behind locked doors or keep them dismantled when not in use.”
Leah Stetz, Barnesville High School, Barnesville, Minnesota

 “I believe that if a system of testing similar to the College Board's Scholastic Aptitude Test and the American College Testing took place in every school in the nation as a prerequisite for graduation, our country's literacy would be dramatically increased.”
Rebecca Rothberg, Barnesville High School, Barnesville, Minnesota

 “A group of gang members form inner city Minneapolis went to Los Angeles to meet with members from other cities to discuss the problem of gang violence. They went as a part of United For Peace, a program that involves gang members from all around trying to work together and do something good for the community. The gangs work together to try to stop the violence and create jobs for black men. During the visit the gang members went to movie star Jim Brown's mansion to discuss this program. The City is a non-profit organization working with inner city kids and their families. The City also works for economic development. The group already offers security services and may try to design a line of clothing representing peace.”
Scott Arthur Grabe, Barnesville High School, Barnesville, Minnesota

 “Another service offered in my school is Peer Helpers. This is a group of kids that are in the school and are trained to talk to anyone who might need it. By having this service available, you do not only have an adult figure to go to when in need. The idea behind Peer Helpers is to get people to talk more openly with one another when a problem occurs.”
Ronda McEvers, Barnesville High School, Barnesville, Minnesota

“The scary part of all these gang related crimes, is that they are not just one area of the county, but wide spread and growing. The larger, more powerful gangs are swallowing up the smaller ones. They are becoming more violent...once the gangs do make truce they don't know what to do with themselves next."
Nicole Schepp, Barnesville High School, Barnesville, Minnesota

“Students are afraid to pass through certain areas because it its the territory of a gang. If this territory has been invaded you better watch your back for the rest of life."
Chad Lane, Barnesville High School, Barnesville, Minnesota

 “Gangs killing gangs, drive-by shootings, and guns in school are all harmful in more than one way. Younger kids who have older brothers who carry guns and are in a gang will most likely grow up to be just like the person that they looked up to when they were a kid. If kids grow up to be like their role models the U.S. is going to be a very unstable place to live...if we would all try to set new morals for younger kids today, then one hundred years from now kids will look at academic role models with good grades instead of kids today who look for role models inhow many people they have killed."
Ronald Scheffler, Barnesville High School, Barnesville, Minnesota

 “Studies of young criminals have found that more than 70 percent of all juveniles in state reform institutions come from fatherless homes. Kids without fathers are forced to find their own ways of doing things. They come up with their own ideas, from friends and from gangs. Nobody is showing them what to do except to be drunk, deal drugs or go to jail. They have no [constructive] role models."
Ryan Hauer, Barnesville High School, Barnesville, Minnesota

 “We allow public figures to do wrong without being punished."
Nicole L. Manning, Barnesville High School, Barnesville, Minnesota

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