Columbia College Chicago Digital Commons @ Columbia College Chicago New Expression Youth Communication Chicago Collection October 1983 New Expression: October 1983 (Volume 7 Issue 5) Columbia College Chicago Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.colum.edu/ycc_newexpressions Part of the Journalism Studies Commons This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License. Recommended Citation Columbia College Chicago, "New Expression: October 1983 (Volume 7 Issue 5)" (1983). New Expression. 54. http://digitalcommons.colum.edu/ycc_newexpressions/54 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Youth Communication Chicago Collection at Digital Commons @ Columbia College Chicago. It has been accepted for inclusion in New Expression by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Columbia College Chicago. The Magazine of ~outh Communication ................~ I. 7, No. 5 October, 1983 Are you and your parents at it again? Is there a com­ munication gap in your family? Would you allow an outsider to try and help you and your parents close this gap? New Expression reporter Brenda Legrone examines these and other questions about parent/teen rela­ tionships in the first of a three-part se­ ries starting on Page 3. Also Inside: • Special eight­ page college pull­ out section begins on Page 5. • "Sixteen Can­ dles" brings Chi­ cago area teens a step closer to Hollywood. See Page 15. • Enter New Ex- pression's new "Letter of the Month" cor~test on ollege Fair Issue Page 3. Photo by Glen Crayton n:,. ide Track . Improve schools: Parents English vs computers now pay science teaching. However, the Car­ if kids negie report argues that students can­ not communicate to computers without first having mastery of the English lan­ guage. drink Amazingly enough, when New Ex­ Have you included any compu! ,r­ pression asked three Chicago public, I related classes in your schedule this private, and .;urburan high school stu­ i dents what they thought about the re­ at home. year? If not, according to a report issued by the National Science Board, you form proposals, they all agreed with the could become a straggler in a new world Carnegie Report. In the September edition of New Ex­ of technology. Sandra Allen , 17. currently ranks municate," Alvin said. pression , we reported on a btll that was But don't worry, because another re­ number one in CVS':, senior class of Alvin, who plans to be a law enforcer, on Governor Thompson's desk which port, released a week after the National about 700. In her three years at CVS she has already singled out specific classes would fine parents up to $600 if their Science Board's report says that we're has taken three computer courses to that he plans to take in his next two years teenagers are caught drinking. This bill only on a "computer binge" and that prepare her for a career as a computer at Oak Park. But if the Oak Park School was finally· approved on Sept. 26. and is mastery of English and literacy is more systems analyst. But even though Board has its way, Alvin may end up with now a law. important in schools. That report was Sandra is set on a career in computers, more arts courses in addition to the law When New Expression called the issued by the Carnegie Foundation for she believes that English is the more class that he wants. Oak Park students youth squad of the Chicago police de­ the Advancement of Teaching. important skill to learn. will be among the first in the nation to get partment on September 29, they said In fact, four maJOr reports have been "You need to know how to write and a taste of "tougher academic standards" they were not enforcing the law yet be­ released tn the past five months that speak in order to communicate with if the school board approves a plan that cause they haven't read the bill. offer solutions for reforming America's computers," Sandra said. "You can't do raises graduation requirements by two Apparently Governor Thompson schools. And more are expected. any job well, let alone computers, if you full credits. shares tHe viewpoint of State Repre­ Although the reports are often con­ don't understand how to communicate." A computer literacy class is not in­ sentative Judy Topinka and the Naper­ fusing, and they contradict each other at Robin May, a 16-year-old junior at cluded in the Oak Park proposal. Ac­ ville and Deerfield community leaders, every turn , all the reports agree on one Unity, feels that technical skill and cording to Associate Principal Don Of­ who feel that the best way to get law thing. American students will be hurt in English are equally important. But, if she ferman, in an interview with the Chicago enforcement is to frighten parents into the long run - unless high schools had to choose, English would come out Tribune, computers will be incorporated supervising teenagers in their home. change. on top. "You have to know how to read, into as many courses as possible, from By passing this bill the Governor has Two of the reports insist on more and write and spell in order to get that infor­ math to the school newspaper, but it will ignored the majority of teenagers sur­ better math, science and computer sci­ mation into the computer," she said. not be a required course by itself. veyed by New Expression and many Il­ ence classes. They say that America's Alvin Matthews, who is a sophomore Apparently, Oak Park's school board linois judges who believe that teen of­ ch ildren trail badly behind other nations at Oak Park/River Forest, says that he has read the reports, drawn its own con­ fenders should be treated as young in scientific skills, and that if this is not . believes math skills are important, but clusions and mapped oi..lt a new pro­ adults and pay for their own crimes. corrected, America will become an English and communication skills a:-n gram. But what about Chicago's In essense, once again, teens are "industrial dinosaur." more important. "You need to kno V~o schools? Which reports will they listen being treated as irresponsible children The National Science Board wants a math in order to deal with your job, salary .to? instead of being treated as young adults. $1 .5 billion crash program to improve and banks, but you also need to com- Donna Branton Bryan Woodards Club's funds running low? Sell '84 t-shirts! What's the matter Bunky? Things got you down because your school club has no money and you don't know how to raise it? Well! Have we got an opportunity for you. Youth Communication is selling- the sharp t-shirts shown on this page at prices just perfect for fundraising. Pur­ chase your group's t-shirts through Youth Communication 207 South Wabash Phone 663-0543 ACT NOW! First come, first served. Only one group per school can sell our T-shirts. II New Expression Teen-Parent Relationshi~s Pt. I ''We don't communicate'' by Brendalyn Legrone Over 50 percent of the teena­ farmers, the teenager became a gers surveyed indicated that they farmer," said Reitzes. "Today it's Sixteen-year-old Penny Foster had conflicts in their homes about totally different. Parents have, as is talking back to her mother. Her money. About 49 percent were a result, become less of a role mother is upset about it. fighting because they felt they model for their teenagers." Penny Foster stopped doing should be able to take part in fam­ "The parenting that teenagers her homework in English class ily decisions. Over 47 percent had used to get from their parents, last year when she was a junior at problems with parents about they now get from their friends and Thornridge high school. She " what is important in school." from television," says William finally failed the class. Her mother More than a third fight about Smart. " Lack of communication was upset about that. "manners and ways of showing and conflicts between teens and Penny Foster is "rebellious," respect." their parents is more intense according to her mother. And her Surprisingly, only 15 percent of today than 20 years ago," he said. mother is upset about Penny's re­ the teenagers surveyed had Teens in New Expression's bellious attitude. problems with their parents about survey described their conflicts. So far this story is not unusual. sexuality. And even the old prob­ One junior girl said, " We never But, what Penny's mother did lem of "teen music" caused less agree, and it usually stays thay about this upset in the family is conflict (24 percent) than money, way. " Another junior girl said, "My unusual. She decided that she school and family decision­ mother doesn't understand me , and Penny needed help, and she making. so, I let it go her way." One senior asked her daughter to agree to But, despite all of this family girl described her family conflict as submit to teen-parent counseling. conflict, only 23 percent of the "differences in everything." Photo by Karen Re~s About 25 percent of all family teens in the su rvey have ever As a result of these conflicts, the networks today get help for teen­ sought the help of a third party. rate of teen runaways, drug abus­ parent problems, according to The rest said they avoid the ers, gang activities, truancy, and William Smart of the Youth Guid­ troublesome subjects entirely (36 drop outs is increasing, Smart Inning letters to parents ance Center.