THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 7, 1996 TAG: 9606070055
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY EMBER DAWSON, HIGH SCHOOL CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: 60 lines
EIGHTH-GRADERS at Blair Middle School were given assigned seats in the cafeteria because a handful of students had thrown food. Later, a couple of students brought weapons to school and we were all subjected to random searches.
Why is it that the majority of honest teen-agers must be punished constantly for the few who tarnish our reputation? Upon Clinton's election in 1992, I thought to myself, ``This must be a man with faith in youth. . . ,'' but after his suggestion last week of strict curfews for teen-agers, my opinion has changed.
Despite Clinton's views that banning teens from the streets at night would curb crime, some statistics dispute his claims by illustrating other causes for juvenile crime.
In a recent survey conducted for The National Teens, Crime, and the Community Program by Louis Harris and Associates, Inc., young people themselves blamed drugs (52 percent) and peer pressure (52 percent) for juvenile violence and crime. An imposed curfew, having no effect on peer pressure aspects of crime, would force containment in the home and might actually elevate strained relations for family members.
The early curfews could ``shift violence from outside the home to inside,'' said Lesley Plasterer, parent of a high school student.
There is often tension between authority and youth caused by distrust and paranoia and could widen considerably if curfew violation became a primary concern of police officers. Already, 25 percent of teens believe that police officers do not like teen-agers according to the Harris survey. The report also shows that 49 percent of students claim they have been hassled by police at least once when the students have done nothing wrong. If curfew becomes an issue, it could further strain the relationship between officers and teen-agers.
Enforcement of this law is highly doubtful - there are enough murders and such going on in this area that police should have more important priorities.
Michal Leamer, a senior at Maury High School, laughed at the curfew.
``They would never be able to enforce it,'' she said. ``I have only heard of one student at Maury being picked up for the 11 o'clock curfew.''
If officers themselves don't take the law seriously, how are parents and teens supposed to?
Plasterer said she thought the curfew would decrease teen crime but is doubtful that teens would abide by the rule.
Megan Viccellio, a senior at Maury High School, said the curfew is too extreme.
``Eight o'clock curfew? I've just begun my homework at a friend's house at 8 o'clock,'' Viccellio said.
I am a 17-year-old senior. I will be allowed to vote in less than four months, therefore I should be able to determine a reasonable time to come home on weeknights. Teen-agers are not all rebellious, they are not all criminals, and they are not all looking to get into trouble.
I wish the president could give the law-abiding majority of us the benefit of the doubt. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Ember Dawson is a senior at Maury High School
KEYWORDS: CURFEW TEENAGER by CNB