Debates

Face Time?

A growing number of preteens are logging on to social networking sites. A recent study by the Pew Research Center found that 38 percent of kids ages 12 to 14 have online profiles. Some people find that number surprisingly high, as both Facebook and MySpace require users to be at least 13 years old. Neither site has a practical way to check ages, however, so many young users beat the system by pretending to be older when they sign up.
    Many parents and experts worry that kids are getting connected too early. Others say the sites are harmless—as long as parents monitor their kids’ online activity.

Should preteens have their faces on Facebook or make MySpace their space? Tell us by clicking on "Comments" below.

The Great Plate Debate

You’ve probably heard of the U.S. Constitution’s clause about the separation of church and state. But what about church and plate? In May 2008, the South Carolina legislature approved a specialty license plate that showed a Christian
cross in front of a stained glass window. The plate also included the words I believe. Like other states, South Carolina offers dozens of specialty tags that feature an array of organizations, causes, and hobbies. According to media reports, several hundred people registered to buy the “I believe” plate before a legal roadblock made it unavailable.
    After a long court battle, a U.S. District Court judge ruled the plate unconstitutional. The judge wrote that it violated the First Amendment to the Constitution, which forbids government endorsement of religion and the preference of one religion over another.
    South Carolina would have been the first state to sell a specialty plate that recognizes a specific religion. In May of this year, Florida lawmakers voted down a similar “I believe” tag.

Is a religious license plate an acceptable expression of faith? Or is it a symbol of government gone wrong? Tell us by clicking on "Comments" below.

Making Waves

Fourteen-year-old Laura Dekker of the Netherlands wants to become the young-est person to sail around the world by herself. But so far, her plans have been anything but smooth sailing. In late October, a Dutch court ruled that Laura must remain docked until further notice.
    Judges said that Laura is emotionally prepared for the two-year voyage and that her sailing skills are strong. However, the court raised doubts about her safety and her ability to continue her schooling while at sea.
    Laura is one of a growing number of teen adventurers who want to circle the globe. In August, 17-year-old British sailor Mike Perham became the youngest person to complete a solo trip around the world. He broke the record set only six weeks earlier by American Zac Sunderland. In mid-October, 16-year-old Jessica Watson of Australia hoisted anchor on a planned eight-month journey.
    This trend has led many people to question how young is too young for would-be world travelers.

Should teens be allowed to set sail, or should they say bon voyage to their around-the-world dreams? Tell us by clicking on "Comments" below.

Play It Again?

On October 20, the New York Yankees pounded the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 10–1 in an important playoff matchup. The win moved New York one step closer to the World Series. But for many fans and sportswriters, the biggest story wasn’t the clutch performances of Alex Rodriguez and CC Sabathia. Instead, the buzz was about three blown calls by the umpires—which TV viewers saw again and again in slow-motion replay. Such glaring umpiring mistakes have sparked the debate about expanding baseball’s use of instant replay.
    Since August 2008, Major League Baseball (MLB) umpires have used limited instant replay to review disputed home-run calls. However, despite the shaky umpiring in the 2009 postseason, MLB has no immediate plans to expand its replay policy. “We need to do a little work, clean up some things,” MLB commissioner Bud Selig told FOXsports.com. “But do I think we need more replay? No.”

Is the commissioner’s decision fair or foul? Tell us by clicking on "Comments" below.

Gulp!

In New York City, new ads in subways are turning heads—and plenty of stomachs. The controversial ads take aim at soft drinks, sports drinks, and sweetened iced teas. The posters show streams of sugary drinks that change to yellow globs of human fat as they are poured into glasses of ice. The shocking images are accompanied by a simple question: “Are you pouring on the pounds?” The ads warn consumers: “Don’t drink yourself fat.”
    The goal of the ads is to send a clear message about sweetened beverages. “Sugary drinks shouldn’t be a part of our everyday diet,” says New York City Health Commissioner Thomas A. Farley. “Drinking beverages loaded with sugars increases the risk of obesity and associated problems, particularly diabetes.” City officials hope the in-your-face approach will turn people on to  healthier drink options: water, seltzer, and low-fat milk.
    Critics, however, say the ads are offensive and send consumers the wrong message about healthy living.

Are the ads guides to good health or just plain gross? Tell us by clicking on "Comments" below.

Kids on Campus

It’s a message most high school students have heard dozens of times: It’s never too soon to get a head start on your college career. This school year, students in the Miami-Dade County (Florida) Public Schools are getting a chance to do just that, thanks to special program called the Academy for Advanced Academics. The program enables juniors and seniors at five Miami high schools to take classes at Florida International University (FIU). By the time they get their high school diplomas, some students will have racked up two full years of college credits.

The program aims to help students get ahead academically while easing the burden on their family’s checkbook. Students in the program spend all day on the college campus. In the morning, they take college classes with FIU undergraduates. In the afternoon, they switch to college-level Advanced Placement (AP) classes taught by high school teachers.       

Not everyone is convinced that such programs are a good thing, however. Some educators and counselors say high school students are too young to handle the demands of college classes. They argue that a college course load puts unnecessary pressure on students who are already dealing with the usual big-time stress of being a teenager.

 Are students who start college early getting ahead? Or are they in over their heads? Tell us by clicking on "Comments" below.

 

Blowing the Whistle

It was a steamy August day in Louisville, Ky., and 15-year-old Max Gilpin was sprinting. Despite the 94-degree heat, Pleasure Ridge Park High School football coach David Jason Stinson had the team running short sprints. Players call them “gassers,” but when Max collapsed on the field, he hadn’t simply run out of gas. His body temperature had soared to 107 degrees. Max was rushed to hospital, but he died three days later of heatstroke, a bacterial infection, and multiple organ failure.

Earlier this month, Stinson went on trial for Max’s death in 2008. The former coach faced charges of reckless homicide and wanton endangerment. Although some of Max’s teammates testified that “gassers” had made a number of students ill, others said the sprints were a normal part of practice. Max was ill that day, and he was taking creatine, a dietary supplement, and Adderall, a drug prescribed for attention deficit disorder. Medical experts testified that his illness and the medication may have contributed to his death.

It took 90 minutes for the jurors to come back with a verdict of not guilty. Max’s death was a tragic accident, the jury decided, but Stinson was not responsible for it. The Stinson trial prompted Kentucky to pass a law requiring coaches to take a four-hour course on how to handle emergencies, heat-related injuries, head injuries, and first aid. Even so, some people are crying foul.

Should coaches be held responsible for student athlete injuries? Tell us by clicking on "Comments" below.

Cash Calls

This year, some students in Abilene, Texas, may find out. If a student there is caught using a mobile device, it will be confiscated and he or she will be charged $15 for its return. If a student is caught twice, a parent must come in to pay the fine. The only exception is for high school students—they get to use their phones during lunch. 

Some say confiscating the mobile devices and collecting fines is a good idea. They say it curbs inappropriate cell phone use and helps bring in extra cash to struggling school districts. 

Others argue that the fines will not limit cell phone use and that kids need to stay connected to 

parents during the day.

Should schools issue cell phone fines? Tell us by clicking on "Comments" below.

Making the Grade

Getting a bad grade in Rockingham, Vt., won’t just get you grounded. It could get you kicked off the team! School officials there are considering new guidelines that would require students to have passing grades in order to participate in extracurricular activities, such as sports and clubs. The proposal would include eighth graders and younger.

Some say the policy would motivate students to work harder in school and help prepare them for future. The school board suggested prohibiting students from participating in actual games while still letting practice until they have restored their academic performance to passing. 

Not everyone gives such policies an A+. Some people argue that no student should be singled out and excluded from after-school activities. They say taking part in extracurricular activities can help kids do better in class by improving their class participation and concentration skills.

Should struggling students be sidelined? Tell us by clicking on "Comments" below.

Textbook Toss-Up

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says those heavy textbooks in your backpack should be scrapped. Starting this fall, California will become the first state to hand out electronic textbooks to its high school students. 

Supporters say digital textbooks will help cash-strapped school districts save money on purchasing expensive, quickly outdated books each year. They say schools should keep up with the online revolution.

Opponents argue that many schools do not have enough computers or teachers trained to use the digital texts. They also claim that the plan will cost money, not save money.

Should schools swap textbooks for e-books? Tell us by clicking on "Comments" below.