[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 55 (Wednesday, May 6, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S4433]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        ``YOUTH HEALTH ISSUES''

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize a commendable 
group of Vermont teens. Oftentimes, society shortchanges teenagers by 
placing unfair stereotypes upon them and by not listening to what they 
have to say. The eighth grade students of Barton Academy have written 
an article to prove that they, as teens, are vital members of their 
community and of society as a whole. I was particularly impressed with 
not only the message but with the eloquence of this article. I ask 
unanimous consent that the article be printed in the Congressional 
Record so that all Senators may read the words of these fine teenagers.
  There being no objection, the article was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                   [From the 1997 Vermont Kids Count]

                          Youth Health Issues

       The following article, written by a class of Barton eighth 
     graders, introduces this section on youth health issues. It 
     provides the much-needed perspectives of teenagers, drawing 
     attention to not only their daily lives but to the heart of 
     many teen issues--the adult society in which they live and 
     grow.


              teens defend themselves against stereotypes

       We present ourselves not as problems to society, but as we 
     really are, 32 teens looking at themselves and society. Not 
     statistics, but the real thing, us. We would like to present 
     what we do that we are proud of, feel we have accomplished, 
     and what we have given to others. We come from all social and 
     economic backgrounds and come together each day in our town 
     school. We have our ups and downs with each other, but get 
     along more often than we do not. Life is not perfect, but 
     neither is yours.
       If you knew us, lived with us, celebrated and grieved with 
     us there would be no need for this response. However, it is 
     our experience that most adults simply ignore, disregard or 
     fear teens. How many adults can you see in any given line at 
     a movie even nod recognition of a teen's humanity, much less 
     start a short conversation? We want to start that 
     conversation.
       Hey Mister, did you know that some of us do barn chores 
     before we even go to school every morning. We do evening 
     chores, too. In between, we go to school, make honor roll on 
     occasion, play sports, participate in band and chorus and 
     ride the roller coaster of adolescence.
       Some of us have part-time jobs to earn the money we want 
     for things. We shovel snow, mow lawns, baby-sit and clean 
     houses for less than minimum wage. We've saved our money for 
     a few years to get what we wanted. We also earn money to buy 
     some of our own clothing, sports equipment and entertainment. 
     Some of us even earn money to contribute to family 
     necessities. Imagine that.
       We have a sense of community. Who do you see picking up the 
     trash along our roads and fields during Green Up Day? Who is 
     collecting bottles for a class trip? Who are the crossing 
     guards so younger children won't get hit by cars? Whose 
     clothes have thoughtfully been gone through and chosen with 
     care to give to clothing centers, or victims of fires? We 
     have given our clothes, our bicycles, games, money and music 
     to others in need just because we were asked.
       We, the 32 teens of the eighth grade of Barton, have 
     volunteered to carry elders' grocery bags just because we saw 
     them struggling. We also volunteer to shovel out our 
     grandparents' dooryards, and even accept the money they 
     insist we take because we know it makes them feel good, too. 
     We march and play our musical instruments in Memorial Day and 
     Veterans Day parades in honor of those who served. Sometimes 
     we go to local nursing homes and play our instruments or 
     sing. Sometimes we go just to share and talk.
       Most of us have family responsibilities that we honor. We 
     split wood and stack it; and move it from one place to 
     another. We trudge through snow and mud to gather sap and 
     help sugar. We do the laundry for the family, set the table, 
     cook some meals, and clean up afterward and empty the trash. 
     We grumble, but we do the chores. We watch our younger 
     brothers and sisters. For the most part, we think we are 
     pretty helpful. Some of us were even responsible for bringing 
     the possibility of recycling into our homes.
       Did you know that teens in our community volunteer to tutor 
     younger children? Some of the teens at Lake Region Union High 
     School coach our junior hoop program and referee our games. 
     Most of us would gladly lend a hand if we were asked.
       Society says that our job is school. Mandatory. We do that, 
     too. We go, learn, try to learn, and try to learn again. 
     Sometimes we give up but not too often. The dropout rate at 
     Lake Region union High School is less than 2 percent, 
     according to Lake Region Annual Report, Jan. 15, 1997. We 
     might not be in the top 10 percent of the world's smartest 
     kids, but do we really need to be? Society is a problem to us 
     sometimes, too. If you want to separate society into parts, 
     we, as teens and citizens, are not responsible for the 
     pollution of the world, the genocide in most corners, 
     poverty, houseless people, pornography, gridlock and the 
     corruption of our national leaders. Drugs are everywhere. Do 
     we manufacture them or smuggle them into the country? Society 
     has taught us from the first time we viewed a sporting event 
     that beer is where it's at. How are we to sort out the mixed 
     messages we are bombarded with? We listen weekly to the 
     adults in the news who compare us unfavorably with the test 
     scores of other countries. We do not make the movies rated 
     PG-13 that include more profanity than we would ever think of 
     using. Where are the everyday role models that you would like 
     us to emulate?
       Our advice--get to know a teen up front and personal. We 
     don't like the word scapegoat for anyone. It makes it too 
     easy to cast the first stone.

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