1993-1994 Harry Singer Foundation National Essay Contest
Doesn't Anyone Care About The Children?
Teacher: Terri Buechler
Centerville High School, Centerville,
South Dakota
1st Tonya Knutson 
2nd Neal Bobzin 
3rd Sarah Hanson
“There
are many examples of irresponsible behavior in our society. One example is people that
fake injuries at their workplace, then take workman's compensation as a supplement because
they can't work. This dishonest behavior costs all of us who pay the insurance premiums a
lot of money."
Lee Austin, Centerville High South Dakota.
“Most
people feel teens know about sex. I don't feel this is the case. I feel abstinence should
be taught by the school. Parents should talk about safe sex to their children. I feel
there should be condom ads and commercials. Some people feel this is encouraging sex. I
don't. I feel this is promoting safe sex. This would solve many problems about the way
teenagers feel about sex. It would also put an end to the problem of saying 'I didn't
know' or 'I wasn't taught'."
Jeanne Johnke, Centerville High School, Centerville, South Dakota
“Jim
Brinkerhoff of western Iowa, found a bag of money containing $1,500 ...and decided to
return it because his conscience would not let him keep it."
Josh Johnson, Centerville High School, Centerville, South Dakota
"We
extrapolate from the flyer that we received recently from Melissa, founder of the
Homemakers of the 90's Club: Most homemakers today are overworked and under-valued.
Although not often recognized by society, a homemaker could be described as a care- taker,
nurse, housekeeper, gardener, taxi driver; psychologist, accountant, teacher, judge, jury,
chef, seamstress and handyperson. Homemakers are really the foundation of the family, but
once the husband and kids have left for the day, they may begin to feel alone and
unimportant. At the Homemakers' Club they get to spend a little time each week with other
'professionals' in their field....At the local weekly meetings they share experiences and
ideas concerning craft projects, recipes, parenting strategies, spousal relationships,
gardening tips and information about issues directly affecting their profession."
When most
working women head off to their jobs every day, they are immediately surrounded by others
who share the same work experiences and can offer them peer support. Shouldn't those who
have chosen homemaking as a way to contribute, also be able to experience a network of
support?
Parents
have lost their power to parent. It has not always been this way. Parents once thought
that it was their moral obligation to take care of, discipline, and take responsibility
for their children. The community expected this of the parents. These children knew that
their parents would not tolerate their behavior and they did obey them. There is no longer
a connection between the family and their community such as these."
Carie Mitchell, Camden High School, Camden, Tennessee.
“Most
people today don't care what their teens are doing at night or who they are with and I
think that should change."
Gunner Rotter, Centerville High School, Centerville, South Dakota
"Teens
should know that they should not drink when they're not old enough. I would bet a good
[number] of teens have been picked up for drinking related accidents and have been let off
easy by their folks."
Gunner Rotter, Centerville High, Centerville, South Dakota
“Most
people today don't care what their teens are doing at night or who they are with and I
think that should change.”
Gunner Rotter, Centerville High School, Centerville, South Dakota
"Teens should know that they should not
drink when they're not old enoughÐI would bet a good [number] of teens have been picked
up for drinking related accidents and have been let off easy by their folks."
Gunner Rotter, Centerville High, Centerville, South Dakota
"It
used to be that the only kind of trading card you could find would have a sports hero on
it. No one ever thought that Horror Cards would invade on sports heroes. These cards have
pictures of a criminal and his childhood background including descriptions of his crimes.
One such card features Edmund Emil Kemper. It talks of such gruesome things as when, at
age thirteen, he cut the family cat into pieces. [The card] goes on to describe his human
victims and their [manner] of death. [There are] even star [celebrity] cards [featuring]
people like Charles Manson and Jeffrey Dahmer."
Neal Bobzin, Centerville High School, Centerville, South Dakota
"I
know a lady who became pregnant when she was a senior in high school. Now she wishes she
would have been told and taught how a child would change her life. Maybe if she would have
been taught everything about sex, maybe it would have changed her decision about having
sex."
Jeanne Johnke, Centerville High, Centerville, South Dakota
"As
a solution to the bike accident I described earlier, I think the city should think about
putting in some bike trails downtown where they now prohibit bikes on sidewalks. Just
prohibiting bike riding on the sidewalk would
prevent accidents like the young boy had [he ran into an elderly lady on the sidewalk] but
it could lead to further injury if they [youngsters] are forced to ride on the streets.Ð
Our local high school Ag program could aid in the planning and the actual building of the
bike trails. This would provide a good experience for the students and benefit the city as
well."
Sarah Hanson, Centerville High School, Centerville, South Dakota
"A
Sioux Falls television station, KDLT, has an award for teachers. This award is called
Teachers Who Make A Difference. This awards teachers who make learning fun, interesting
and worthwhile. Teachers are nominated by a letter from students describing what the
teacher does. This award is given every month with a ceremony at the school."
Jana Cooey, Centerville High Centerville, South
Dakota
"Professional
football player Warren Moon, the Houston Oilers quarterback, founded the Crescent Moon
Foundation. Created in 1989, the foundation has offered 80 scholarships to high school
students in the past four years. He [Mr. Moon] founded Crescent Moon to provide
educational and cultural opportunities, and friends and mentors to needy kids. The
scholarships provided by this foundation fulfill many kids' dreams of attending college.
Not only does Warren Moon provide hundreds of thousands of
scholarships, but he also organizes trips to circuses, museums and
ballets."
Melanie Grage, Centerville High School, Centerville,
South Dakota
Back