1994-1995 Harry Singer Foundation National Essay Contest
Alternatives: Proposals For Local Governments Struggling
With Limited Resources
Teacher: John Hendricks
Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
1st Angie Landy
2nd Jonathan Thomas 
3rd Julia
Murray
"Many students discovered
things about our community that they did not know. Students worked together to find
information, especially information about how other communities deal with problems like
our community has.
But by far the most significant result has been recent changes in our community. An
amazing number of the students' ideas are actually in process. Committees are being formed
and activities are being started. I'm not claiming that the students actually instigated
such actions, but many of them were participants and continue to participate. A recent day
long planning meeting of various community groups and committees was attended by a large
number of our students, some of whom are active members of these groups and committees
which are actually putting the students' ideas into practice."
Teacher---------------John Hendricks, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"Some looked for incentives to entice their peers: "Community
service volunteerism looks good on a college application, so this could be an incentive to
get involved."
Julia Murray, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"If you really feel that it's important to have a youth center in
Salem, then you will find a way to fund it..The money could be there if it were wanted
badly enough."
Carolyn Asher, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"Now is the time for our youth to gain assistance from the mature who
are willing to give their experience. Each generation contributes their best...Family
volunteers such as parents, uncles, aunts, and grandparents are the people who can offer
their lifetime of experience and leadership to serve all upcoming generations."
Melissa York, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"In closing, I hope that someday there will be a building built for
us teens that will get some off the streets and others involved with the ... things in
life that heads us toward a positive future,...I believe that if a petition is
[distributed] and the youth of our town put out hard work to try to make the Center
happen, then it will. This may cost a lot of money, but nothing costs too much when it
deals with saving lives of our teenagers."
Nikki Bowen, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"Helping to organize and plan for the building of the center would
not only bring joy to the kids and benefit their futures, but also bring in jobs for the
community. Jobs mean more businesses would come into the area, which means evern more
jobs, leading to expansion of the town. Jobs would come in due to people thinking this is
a town that cares about its children. If they think this then they will want to move here
and bring their business with them."
Derek Dickemann, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"Just because Salem is a small, rural community does not mean that it
cannot have the problems of a large city."
S. N. Ball, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"[The success of the project depends on]... the amount of
participation from the people of Salem. It is highly possible that the center could be a
passing fad, like our cinema in Salem that closed from lack of support. It could be very
successful in the beginning, but draws in less and less of a crowd as time goes on. Some
people would get bored with the center, unless the committee is constantly changing it to
keep it interesting. It would be extremely difficult for one group of people to keep
enough new ideas and funds going to entertain all types of people."
Angie Lundy, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri
"Now is the time to act! It is not enough to simply acknowledge a
problem. In the past, the citizens of Salem have overcome problems, such as the need for
improved facilities for our handicapped citizens, through the Dent County Developmental
Disability Center, and the same way, we can overcome [future problems]. The citizens must
take the first step towards preparation for tomorrow."
Jonathan Thomas, Salem High School, Salem, Missouri