1994-1995 Harry Singer Foundation National Essay Contest
Should Government Intervene To Help Children and Teens in Trouble: If so, How? If Not Government, Who or What Entity Should Offer What Type of Assistance?
Teacher: Mary Schoonover
Strausburg High School, Strausburg,
Colorado
1st Mundrov
Plumen 
2nd Jennie Wailes
3rd Keo
McBroom
"Iman Reed at the age of 11, liked to pick fights on the streets of
Wichita, Kansas, making him a prime target for a revenge shooting. His mom then enrolled
him in a Big Brother program,...five years later, Iman is getting A's and B's in school,
and has been thinking about a law degree. 'If I wasn't in the program, I'd be in one of
those gangs.' he commented....In Fort Myers, Florida the juvenile crime rate has dropped
27 percent since they started up an academic and recreation program, called Stars."
Stacy Miller, Strasburg High School, Strasburg, Colorado
Students continued to implore government:
"Some people have tried to help America's troubled teens. There have been some
attempted solutions. Rehabilitation centers try to give kids an environment they feel safe
in and...instill a sense of right and wrong, while trying to make them better. ...The
question is: 'Should the government intervene?' When gang violence or child abuse cases go
to court, government intervention is inevitable. ...Government needs to provide a way out
for the children. These are the dangerous cases that occur in the neighborhoods where
nobody notices, or if they do, don't do anything about it. When the government hears of
such a case, it needs to get the child/children out of a bad situation before it gets
worse. If the people and the government will join hands and come together, we can fight a
common enemy and win the war."
Marissa Deffenbaugh, Strasburg High School, Strasburg, Colorado
"Family counseling may not always be an answer, but help from surrounding
neighbors willing to care with a helping hand can dramatically change things."
Vicki Davis, Strasburg High School, Strasburg, Colorado
Young people are eager and willing to work for a solution to what they feel is a top priority problem:
"The main reason why this topic bothers me so much is because I'm very frightened.
What can I do, now, as a teenager to prevent this from happening to my kids and not only
my kids, but friends and relatives? I hope that this problem gets some sort of
solution..."
Melissa Kay Rood, Strasburg High School, Strasburg, Colorado