1993-1994 Harry Singer Foundation National Essay Contest

Doesn't Anyone Care About The Children?
Teacher: Jane Ellen Stritzinger

Demopolis High School, Demopolis, Alabama

1st Melissa Wendt   2nd Blythe Sullivan   3rd Dana Jones

"The family unit is very important. Many values and standards begin in the home with the family. Families should learn to communicate more thoroughly so teens will not take their anger out on other teens. Parent could take enough time to be a part of the teen's activities and know more about them. This would prevent many people that are too young for many video games and song lyrics from being a part of them."
Melanie Homan, Demopolis High School, Demopolis, Alabama

 "We have given up the responsibility of raising our children ... Because of this, children have turned to gangs for what the family should be giving them -- acceptance and love. [The gang's] love and acceptance often has a price and the price is usually being active in criminal activities."
Paula Rogers Demopolis High School, Demopolis, Alabama

 "Gaylynn L. Becker, the assistant director of counseling and testing for the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, said that students from his state performed better than the rest of the nation because the majority of them came from stable homes."
Hess Wright Demopolis High School, Demopolis, Alabama

"The basis of our destruction is very simply put, the lack of a family unit. Americans have somehow lost sight of how important the family is....In 1970 only 190.4 girls out of 1,000 between the ages of 15-19 became pregnant. In 1989 [that statistic rose to] 337.3 girls. It is true that these statistics can be affected by many circumstances, but the fact that teen pregnancies increased so greatly with the increase of divorce cannot be overlooked or ignored."
Blythe Sullivan Demopolis High School, Demopolis, Alabama

 "It is becoming more common to see someone doing only as little as possible to get by. Lowered standardized test scores, teenage pregnancies, and increased juvenile crime rate are just three examples of the irresponsible behavior taking place in our nation today. Our children of today are the future of tomorrow and without the help of role models we cannot bring a brighter future to America."
Pam Courtney Demopolis High School, Demopolis, Alabama

 "When I look in the mirror, I see a person full of hopes and dreams--dreams of a family, a career, and most of all, happiness. As I prepare to fulfill these dreams, I look around in the nation where I live and see a nation that has lost all hope and ultimately has no dreams for itself. I wonder how a nation built on the idea of freedom and the pursuit of happiness can be full of such inner turmoil. What great force has come in and robbed us of our promise of happiness?"
Paula Rogers Demopolis High School, Demopolis, Alabama

 "[Regarding the Brady Law] This law is one that attempts to gain control of the weapons used in the United States. I believe that the need for such a bill exemplifies the loss of control in our country rather than a harness on control."
Melanie Homan, Demopolis High, Demopolis, Alabama

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