1993-1994 Harry Singer Foundation National Essay Contest

Doesn't Anyone Care About The Children?
Teacher: Jan Weldin

Carbondale High School, Carbondale, Illinois

1st Heather Stearns   2nd Jennifer Roosevelt   3rd Ryan L. Moore

"Parents, teachers, and any other adult can preach until they're blue in the face, but it won't help one bit until adults start living by their own standards."
Heather Stearns, Carbondale High School, Carbondale, Illinois

 "It is every person's responsibility to restrain themselves when under great pressure. When they lash out and resort to violence they are being irresponsible."
Harn-Jen Shiue, Carbondale High, Carbondale, Illinois

 "As the children get older they see their parents argue and eventually divorce. Caught in the middle of World War III, the child has to listen as each parent blames the failed marriage on the other. They aren't even responsible enough to make an honest commitment to the person they married."
Heather Stearns, Carbondale High School, Carbondale, Illinois

 "When I asked my uncle about what he thought was happening to values in the home, he said that it all stems from society making everything easier and more convenient. He believes that we are an undisciplined society with a degenerating work ethic."
Ryan L. Moore, Carbondale High School, Carbondale, Illinois"

 "I don't think that any of these problems of violent crime can be solved until we teach our children moral values and ethics."
Brian Skouby, Carbondale High School, Carbondale, Illinois

 "Children do not strive to pay back society by stealing, killing, or hurting others. Children are basically good until society shows them how to steal, kill, or hurt."
Daisy Clam, Carbondale High School, Carbondale, Illinois

 "Women have children, but instead of sticking by them in their most impressionable ages, they shove them off to nurseries and head back to work, leaving it up to strangers to instill in their kids the stranger's values."
Heather Stearns, Carbondale High School, Carbondale, Illinois

 "One solution is to set aside a TV in the house where such cable channels a MTV are not accessible to the child. Along with this tell the child that this is their TV and therefore they will have a sense of ownership. Which in turn will make the child not want to watch any other TV in the house. Until they are at a age where they can better understand TV and it's consequences."
Mahasin Haqq, Carbondale High School, Carbondale, Illinois

 "When parents start taking more responsibility for their families, jobs, and each other, maybe the children of the nation will start to believe in the values they are taught."
Heather Stearns, Carbondale High School, Carbondale, Illinois

 "Parents should consider working at home where their child can remain at home with them. Nowadays, it is possible to work at home especially if it is a business-type career because one of the parents can easily purchase a computer in which they can telecommunicate with their colleagues."
Didi Andrew, Carbondale High School, Carbondale, Illinois

 "The family has traditionally determined whether a society fails or thrives. The family is something Americans need to rediscover but, because of its individuality, everyone has to "find family" on his/her own. Once the family reclaims it's responsibility to the youth of America, community, church, and school will also fall into place, and society, as a whole, will be a safer and more peaceful place."
Jenifer Roosevelt, Carbondale High School, Carbondale, Illinois

 "Showing the youth that they are important and that they make a difference could be the first step in stopping a pattern of dehumanization and violence taught by the criminal justice system, television, and society,"
Jenifer Roosevelt, Carbondale High School, Carbondale, Illinois

 "Schools need to take more care in hiring teachers. They need teachers who are not afraid to talk about race relations, guy/girl relations, and moral values. The question of whose values are to be used has nothing to do with religion, because if parents are doing their part, the schools can work on a broader base."
Heather Stearns, Carbondale High School, Carbondale, Illinois

 "When teaching values in school is mentioned many people become irritated. Issues on race and religion are very touchy due mostly to the social revolutions of the 1960's. Up until then educators felt very comfortable about teaching ethics. But in today's society it would be considered absurd. There are too many cultures and different standards of moral[ity]. A solution to this ethical gridlock is the teaching of tolerance and honesty, for these are basic beliefs. We can also study the past; this way people can see the error of human nature and draw their own conclusions."
Ryan L. Moore, Carbondale High School, Carbondale, Illinois

 "George Sam, an ex-cop, created SAFE: Schools Are For Education, to clear guns from Chicago schools."
Jenifer Roosevelt, Carbondale High School, Carbondale, Illinois

 "When I asked my mother which she thought was more important, the parents or the teachers, she gave me a poem called Unity to read. The poem compared the parent and teacher as equal sculptors; one used books and art while the other used a loving heart. The last two lines put into perspective the importance and equality between the two. And each agreed they would have failed if each had worked alone, for behind the parent stood the school and behind the teacher, the home. --Author Unknown"
Ryan L. Moore, Carbondale High School, Carbondale, Illinois

 "Many still feel that school, family, and church should have equal responsibility in raising children, but the latter two have become weakened and schools have been expected to make up for that. Ð Mandatory parent-teacher conferences Ðwould be especially helpful at the high school level. Often...the only time a conference takes place is when the student has done something wrong and prior to graduation. Many parents do not know how or what their child is doing in school beyond looking at the report card. Parents aren't encouraged to stay involved in their child's life after flash cards. A solution would be to make parents meet with school officials at least twice a year. These meetings would serve as a time for parents to be informed on what would be covered during the school year. School officials could be notified of anything that might help the student's performance in school. The meeting could be a time where both the parents and the school officials could commend each other and express complaints. Appointments would be made directly with the parents who would again feel needed in their children's lives." 
Jenifer Roosevelt, Carbondale High School, Carbondale, Illinois"

 "Although many people may not realize it, television talk-shows which deal with social problems are of great assistance to viewers who share the same problems."
Petra Thipkhosithkun, Carbondale High School, Carbondale, Illinois

 "Lifesavers is a group of young individuals who come together in times of need. It is formed by various groups of high school students who take the time to help others when they are in trouble or even just for a simple talk. Lifesavers take responsibility for others as well as for themselves. They pledge not to drink and not to take drugs while serving as a Lifesaver."
Didi Andrew, Carbondale High School, Carbondale, Illinois

 "Many of the football players stated that they too had grown up in violent schools, but they managed to stay out of trouble. They made the kids realize that people can still be important, popular, and definitely successful without following the usual route of violence."
Tracy Leenig, Carbondale High School, Carbondale, Illinois

 "Preventing Adolescent Pregnancy (PAP) is a successful program introduced in 1983 to help low income teens avoid cycles of early pregnancy, poverty, and hopelessness."
Didi Andrew, Carbondale High School, Carbondale, Illinois

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