1993-1994 Harry Singer Foundation National Essay Contest
Doesn't Anyone Care About The Children?
Teacher: John Hendricks
Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
1st Michelle Harris 
2nd Dawn Brown 
3rd Drew Johnson
"There
was a man hauling gas for a gas company and after he would make all of his deliveries
daily he would take whatever extra gas he had left from his delivery truck and put it in
his own tank at his house. That is simply theft; there is nothing else really to
say."
Drew Johnson, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"Gangs
are almost always revolving around sex. In many gangs, guys have to have sex with many
females in order to become a member of the particular gang. I also heard of a female gang
in which girls have to have sex with a person with the AIDS virus in order to become a
member."
Danna Hines, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"Sex is
very important in the production of movies. In the movie Porkies, sex seems to be the only
important item about being in high school. I feel that the movie makes young people feel
that if they are not having sex, then they are not important and aren't cool, but if they
do have sex, then they are cool and are important... Peer pressure in dating is very
common. Guys seen to pressure the girl into having sex on the first date. The guy will
usually say that he fell in love, and he wants to show her how much."
Danna Hines, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"Friends
have a very important role in sex. When you're around them, most of them will talk about
having sex. It will sometimes make you feel that you don't fit in with them because you're
not involved with sexual activities."
Danna Hines, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"I use
to know a girl at my old high school in California before I moved to Missouri, and she had
a little girl when she was sixteen years old. She use to tell me that she was happy to
have her child but it was a very hard responsibility. She said it was real hard to get by
in life because her parents kicked her out. She was real sad and upset because she had to
Richard Garrett, Salem High School, Salem,
Missouri
"I use
to know a girl at my old high school in California before I moved to Missouri, and she had
a little girl when she was sixteen years old. She use to tell me that she was happy to
have her child but it was a very hard responsibility. She said it was real hard to get by
in life because her parents kicked her out. She was real sad and upset because she had to
Richard Garrett, Salem High School, Salem,
Missouri
"I also think that bars and clubs should take on some of the
responsibility. They supply the alcohol and make money doing so. Why can't they help out a
little? They could hire a person to be a full time designated driver if someone is to
intoxicated to drive home this person will make sure they arrive home safely, free of
charge."
Holly R. White, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"How
can we make every parent a good one? I think the answer is education. The government must
set up parenting programs. They must make every parent go through these classes. Maybe
even make a law that requires every parent to attend the classes."
Courtney Trombley, Salem High School, Salem,
Missouri
"A strong moral foundation not only will ease moments of
confrontation on the playground but also can give a child the fortitude to resist
cheating, drugs, and other serious temptations later."
Shara Bowers, Salem High School, Salem,
Missouri