1993-1994 Harry Singer Foundation National Essay Contest

Doesn't Anyone Care About The Children?

Teachers: George Wenner and John Shoemaker

Garnet Valley High School, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania

   1st Jordn Whitacre        2nd Missi Thompson   3rd Adam Maliszewski

"Since America's future depends on the teenagers, Ð if they are rewarded for their responsible actions, others may become more responsible."
Stephanie Koch, Garnet Valley High School, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania

  "A friend of the family had part of the kitchen in their house burn down. The insurance claim was made for a sizable amount of money for property, which they did not own. They received what they asked for the damaged goods. They replaced the kitchen, which is much nicer than it was before the fire plus there was enough money to build a large addition to the house. This type of behavior is very profitable, but not very ethical."
Michele Paulick, Garnet Valley High School, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania

"People are at their most impressionable time when they are children. From birth until children are finished their schooling is about the time span where good role models are important."
Leah Wilkerson, Garnet Valley High School, Glen Mills,Pennsylvania

"A mother left her child alone in a house for three months. While we still do not have all the facts, we do know that nothing can justify this behavior. When a person brings a child into this world, their responsibility does not end when it is convenient. A perfect example of responsibility in this same case is that the thirteen year old child continued to go to school every day even though no one was there to 'make her go'. How did such a responsible child get raised by such an irresponsible parent?"
Megan McGraw, Garnet Valley High School, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania

"Fatherless children are many times more likely to commit crime than children with a male figure in their lives. Fatherless children are also more likely to abandon their [own] children when the time comes for them to take responsibility. I can personally attest to this fact, for one of my best friends, who is fatherless, has a brother who just left jail and is on parole. He also has a pregnant girlfriend." 
Richard Cioll, Garnet Valley High School, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania

Role models are important in the life of a child, and if their role models do not display responsibility, what can be expected of the children?"
Thomas King, Garnet Valley High School, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania

"A professor of education at Harvard, Charles Willie, says universities should strive for diversity--even if the school's goal of excellence is lost in the process. His arguments would justify turning away white and Asian straight-A students and instead accepting 'adequate' minority students. Willie explains that equity should be the major concern of universities rather than excellence. While these policies may be well meaning and intended to create equal opportunities, they are not sending responsible messages. In fact, Willie is saying that 'adequate' is good enough for some, but excellence is not good enough for others, which hardly promotes equal opportunity."
Jordon Whitacre, Garnet Valley High School, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania

  "Mothers are not given care manuals while birthing their children in the hospitals; maybe booklets should be distributed."
Martha Harrison, Garnet Valley High School, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania

  "Condoms are expensive to constantly purchase, especially for a teenager making minimum wage. ... To stop sex is a task that is extremely difficult, so before trying to teach total abstinence, teach protection."
Richard Cioll, Garnet Valley High School, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania

"School can help children a lot, but without the parents' help and support, any school effort to help the kids won't be nearly as effective. This is why I think a big step should be to combine home life with school life in a way that includes parents. Every homework assignment or school activity should include something for parents to participate in, whether it is questions that require answers from both parents and students, or just a line at the bottom of worksheets for a signature from mom or dad."
Leah Wilkerson, Garnet Valley High School, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania

  "Since America's future depends on the teenagers,  if they are rewarded for their responsible actions, others may become more responsible."
Stephanie Koch, Garnet Valley High School, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania

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