1993-1994 Harry Singer Foundation National Essay Contest

Doesn't Anyone Care About The Children?

Teacher: Janet Adams

Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho

1st Jason Tenhonen   2nd Barbie Caton   3rd Kevin Neubauer

"Two years ago my sister was on her daily walk just before breakfast. She had taken her usual route up Placer Creek Road and all was going fine. Out of nowhere a man emerged from behind some brush. He was wearing a ski mask and holding a rifle. In a muffled voice he told her to start climbing a steep mountain next to the road. They slowly made their way up to a little camp site the man had set up. Upon reaching the camp the man tied her to a tree and left saying he'd be back in a little bit. Thankfully my sister was able to free herself and race back home before the man returned. My sister was lucky to get away with only rope burns. Previous similar incidents weren't as positive."
John Fleming, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho

 "A friend of mine in Eatonville, Washington got caught up in a gang forming in Tacoma. After transferring to my school, he had plenty of stories of friends killing or being killed in the de-initiation from his gang. The only way out is getting out of town and when you live in South Central that's no choice at all."
John Fleming, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho

 "Many states have gangs popping up in their larger cities, which is mainly due to the glorification of being in a gang. Rappers like Eazy-E and Flavor-flav are glorifying violence... This is a problem that every state in the United States should worry about because gang violence is rapidly spreading."
Jason Tenhonen, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho

 "Billy L was already due in court for armed robbery when he, along with two teenage friends, came upon a homeless woman in New York City Central Park. On the spur of the moment, they beat her with a pipe and repeatedly raped her. At the time Billy was twelve years old. Upon apprehending the youths, police found evidence leading them to believe that a month earlier, Billy had murdered a woman in a similar rape and beating. At a hearing in New York's family court, he received the maximum penalty a twelve year old could get---eighteen months at an up-state boys' camp."
Matt Raiha, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho

"Along with disease and pregnancy problems caused by promiscuity, mental anguish becomes a third problem. I have observed some of my friends trying to deal with the emotions of guilt and rejection after a sexually active relationship. One of my friends in particular had sex with a guy because she thought he would like her better. After she had sex with him, he ignored her and treated her really badly. She...was really depressed for quite a while after that. She quickly learned to get to know somebody and care a lot about them before she had sex with them."
Jodi Bentley, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho

 "The responsibility of the deficit is ours so we must act together to bring it to where it should be. I am asking as an 18-year-old concerned with my future and the future of others here in the United States. I would like to get married and have a family, but what kind of a world would I bring them into if we can't even pay our bills as a nation?"
Wade Harris, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho

 "Ending violence in our society must begin with our children. Children need positive role models, but often don't have opportunity to get to know anyone. Many students in our high school enjoy hobbies. I would like to start a program where high school students organize a club room after school, each older student being assigned his own room. In this room, the high schooler would share his hobby with any interested elementary student, while at the same time, share positive values and ideas. From contact in these individual groups, the high school student could possibly identify any troubled or lonely signs from the elementary students and initiate one-on-one activities with that young student."
Jason Tenhonen, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho

 "Another idea would be to have a mentor-type program involving high school students and first graders. The high schoolers would start when they are sophomores and adopt the first grade class of that year. The classes could meet once a week and take field trips together as they get to know one another better as individuals. They could discuss the problems that each age group has to go through. These two classes could continue like this until the high schoolers graduate. I feel this would tear down the wall between the two age groups and show the little kids that it is possible to survive difficult years. This would also give the younger kids an additional role model and hopefully show them how to cope with problems before they arise. Having the ability to make the right decision could effect them for the rest of their lives."
Kevin Neubauer, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho

"If, at a young age, we can nurture and pay attention to the children, fewer of them will grow up with angry and violent tendencies."
Jason Tenhonen, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho

 "People don't realize that some people get into situations that they can't get themselves out of. Maybe we can set-up fun things for the children to do. Get them out of the house a while. Or get a baby-sitting club going, and set something up for the parent's to go out and do; maybe a dinner, or dancing, or a movie. To do this you'll need money within the organizationÒso set-up a fund raiser. You could get these people involved with this too. Have them help set-up the fund raiser; actually have a hands-on type deal. It could be fun for them, and a learning experience for us."
Jamie Tesky, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho

 "It would be really hard to try to solve homelessness but I think we can do more to put a damper on it. Maybe the school could get together with some businesses in town and make a contract with them to sponsor a child in that school. Every time that student receives an A on his or her report card the business could donate food, clothes, or money to the homeless. It would give students a little more to think about when striving on their homework. Maybe it would make them appreciate how lucky they are to be doing it in a nice warm house!"
Barbie Eaton, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho

 "Some pro football players from the championship Dallas Cowboys, like Emmitt Smith, donate their free time to got to schools and hospitals to tell kids the effects of alcohol and other drugs. Other teams like the Denver Broncos are also starting to catch on and inform the youth of America that they don't have to drink and do drugs to fit in. Kenny Dykstra, who currently plays professional baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies, was once involved in a drunk driving accident. Kykstra was driving the car. After the accident, Dykstra went sober and started preaching the effects that drinking and driving can have on people."
Mark Hegbloom, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho

 "Tom Selleck takes part in a program headed up by Barbara Jordan which is called the Character Counts Coalition, an experimental program being tried in several big cities across the nation. In this program, they speak in schools and put emphasis on self worth, standing up for what they believe and being an individual in society today."
Kevin Neubauer, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho

 "Some schools in Spokane, Washington, have started a program called Stay In School. This program offers students prizes for staying in school."
Keith Parker, Wallace High School, Wallace, Idaho

Back