"What we need is more people who care about these young people and are willing to work with them and help solve the problem from the inside out. We have to have more people volunteering time for community services such as the Boys Club or Boy Scouts. We need to start when they are young so they don't have a chance to grow up in the way they have been for the past decade." Chris Evers, David Crockett High School, Austin, Texas
"My solution to this crime problem is to give the children something to do that they are interested in. Some examples are youth athletic leagues, Big Brother & Big Sister programs, and more clubs and organizations sponsored by our local schools. Sure it may cost our government (tax- payers) more money, but..." Mitchell Gerstenkorn, Kensington High School, Kensington, Kansas
"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
"Elementary students, who are having problems could be placed with high school student volunteers. These volunteers would "adopt" them into their families and instill necessary values. Also by spending time with them they would show them that someone cares and they wouldn't feel they need to get attention in other, more violent ways." Carol McCarty, Big Spring High School, Newville, Pennsylvania
"The main step for youth to become more responsible is for them to see more responsible role models to follow. If more people would be generous enough to freely give of themselves for the benefit of others, the youth of today would follow their example and the generations to come would become more responsible." Carrie Milam, Armwood High School, Seffner, Florida"I can start to educate younger people right here in my home, beginning with my younger brother. I can be a role model for him by not drinking or using drugs and by simply talking to him about the dangers of doing so. I can become a member of SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) and FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). Just by these simple measures, I am teaching patterns of behavior to young children." Zachary T. King, Danville High School, Danville, Kentucky"My solution is to try to teach others how to act responsibly in all situations. [People] need to be taught how to spend their money wisely. One way would be to hold free 'how-to' classes. These classes could be used to teach almost everything that could be used to improve a person's life. For exampleÐteach how to shop for the items necessary to fix a meal and then how to cook it.Ð They will not be as likely to spend their money in expensive fast food restaurants. We need to start teaching children when they are very young that all things do not have a guarantee. Therefore they need to learn how to manage their money wisely. They need to realize that they may not always have a job, car, or home." Wendy Jolliff, Lincoln County High School, Eureka, MontanaTo Clean Up A Polluted CultureWhen we talked about causation in the last section we saw that the media was sometimes perceived as a bad influence on impressionable youngsters. In the excerpts below students offer some practical solutions:"One solution is to set aside a TV in the house where such cable channels a MTV are not accessible to the child. Along with this tell the child that this is their TV and therefore they will have a sense of ownership. Which in turn will make the child not want to watch any other TV in the house. Until they are at a age where they can better understand TV and it's consequences." Mahasin Haqq, Carbondale High School, Carbondale, Illinois"TV stations have produced three devices to be used by parents to block out what their children watch. These three devices are SuperVision, TV Allowance, and Time Slot. SuperVision and TV Allowance both use a password to control what is watched. Time Slot uses a plastic card that is slid through a cable box...TV violence may never end, but its affliction against children can end if people take responsibility for themselves, for their children, and for the welfare of others." Kate E. Kauffman, Antietam High School, Reading, Pennsylvania"With the technology in today's world, a computer chip could be made that would screen out the programs that are considered violent. This could be accomplished by rating programs and having the computer chip read the rating and figure out whether or not the show is appropriate. If the show is not, then the show will be cut out or blacked out. Ðhave each person in the familyÐhave a code that would screen out certain programs for the younger viewers and a code to expand the viewing abilities for the adults." Becky Anderson, Phoenix High School, Phoenix, Oregon"So how do we fix this problem? The first step is to achieve what the researchers call 'television literacy.' That basically means you need to understand what you're seeing and hearing. After you understand what you're seeing is violence, check your TV listing for an alternate show at the same time. Watching something on VCR is another way to avoid the violence in the media. I hardly ever watch television for more than an hour, but I do watch my VCR consistently. One person cannot change the media, but one person can change their own outlook on what the media presents." Angela Jennings, Walters High School, Walters, OklahomaSelf control may be the answer:"Since we cannot stop children from watching the movies they really want to watch without controlling them in a very strict way, and the law doesn't give us the [right] to stop stations from broadcasting their violence and sex-filled programs. We must find ways to motivate children and stations to control themselves." Kilian Kreutzer, South Kent High School, South Kent, ConnecticutKeilani (below) agrees and offers suggestions:"Find something constructive for the youth of America to do. There are too many people who rely on television as their baby-sitter or as their sole source of entertainment. Instead of promoting television and movies, promote hobbies that stimulate the mind, like writing or reading." Keilani Williams, New Underwood High School, New Underwood, South DakotaAs for the reality issue:"A few ways to help would be to watch the programs that children are watching and discuss with them what is real and what is not, as well as what is right and wrong." Becky Anderson, Phoenix High School, Phoenix, Oregon"When I baby-sit, I have found that it helps when we discuss the unreality of television and about the frequent use of violence." Angela Jennings, Walters High School, Walters, Oklahoma"Parents can become active participants with their children by watching shows with them and discussing the situations shown, whether they are actual or fiction and what the outcome would really be if people acted in that manner in real life." Mike Godfrey, Phoenix High School, Phoenix, OregonThe media can play a positive role:"I think people need to start by bringing good moral values back into things such as television, magazines, etc. I also think that there should be something such as a magazine that rewards...heroes of today. They should try to push the importance of good moral values in society." Jeff Hershberger, Eureka High School, Eureka, Illinois "More of the good things happening should be publicized rather than the bad things." Gabriela Gamez, Hereford, High School, Hereford, Texas"By conveying ideas of responsibility through the actions and situations which are portrayed on television and by the media, it is possible to produce very positive results. This is a phenomenal task, but avoiding a change now will only create an even larger task in the future." Jerry Schreck, Eureka High School, Eureka, Illinois"The media and entertainment world must step forward and help teach our children that violence kills. Ð Vanessa Scherzer, of the Center to Prevent Handgun Violence states, Every week kids see their favorite TV star blown away one minute and out of the hospital the next. They don't see what family members go through, they don't see a kid in a wheelchair, and they don't even see the legal ramifications" Patrick A. Sampson, Concordia High School, Kansas"The Family First series Ð centers on real family problems and offers choices in solving them." Mandy McCormack, Blue Ridge High School, Blue Ridge, TexasMara (below) advocates a self-regulating media:"Out of all of these stories about responsibility and irresponsibility, I think that the most disturbing example is that of media irresponsibility. The Los Angeles riots is a classic example of how powerful the media is in our society. While private citizens need to be accountable for their own actions, the media has to realize its power and responsibility to the nation. I don't think that the government should step in and censor the media, but I believe that the media should regulate itself. I think government should give tax incentives to those networks and newspapers who join a Media Responsibility Network. This network would be made up of different individuals and companies in the industry, and they would set up universal guidelines for all of its members to follow." Mara Bergeron, Deer River High School, Deer River, MinnesotaThe entertainment industry replaced the preachers during the sixties and TV became the promulgator of values. Self-control and self-discipline became synonymous with "square". "Do your own thing" and the dictum to "let it all hang out," became the new value. Today many young people are more influenced by rappers and entertainers like Madonna than their own families, books or teachers. In the excerpts below, Angella and Chris advocate change: "I also think that television shows such as Beverly Hills 90210 and Melrose Place should be taken off of the air, and that programs like them, but without the sex scenes should be put on. I think that more educational shows should be put on the air to try and make teenagers be less willing to have sexual intercourse."Angella Carmen Pinson, LaCrosse High School, LaCrosse, Washington"Labels have already been made to warn against violent and profane words in music, but should also be used to warn against songs that encourage increased sexual activity among youth. These labels would be voluntary, but the big name artists, such as Snoop Doggy Dogg, Too Short, and White Zombie, should start doing this sort of labeling so that other artists will follow." Chris Sanchez, David Crockett High School, Austin, Texasin, Texas