Abstract This paper examines the many arguments for and against school uniforms in public schools and how the main concern has to do with the legality of making uniforms compulsory for public school students. The aim of mandating school uniforms is to create uniformity among students. Wearing school uniforms will help blur economic and class disparities among students since the all students will adorn the same clothes. It evaluates the legality of such a policy if implemented since the Supreme Court has made it clear that free speech extends to actions and dress and provides various facts and figures on those schools that have already implemented school uniform policies.
From the Paper "In certain areas of California certain colors convey that the person wearing it is a member of a gang. Sadly, even those who wear these colors who are not members of the gang often become victims of the gangs mindless violence simply for wearing "their" colors. Three thousand miles away in New York City, students have been victims of crime because they wear what is considered to expensive clothing, students are not only targeted by their fellow students but outsiders as well. In the early 1990's the infamous and costly ?8-Ball? jacket was highly sought after by thieves and many schools found themselves responding to situations because a student was attacked for his or her jacket."
Abstract This paper tells the story of Megan Kanka, the 7 year-old girl from suburban New Jersey who was raped and killed by her neighbor, a two-time convicted sex offender. Megan's Law requires convicted sex-offenders to register where they will be living once they are released from jail. The paper describes the implementation and implications of this federal law, and presents conflicting opinions regarding this law.
From the Paper "Megan Kanka was someone's daughter, sister, and best friend. She had happiness, dreams, and promise, just like every other seven-year-old girl. Now, she will never get to go to her prom or wedding, and she will never embrace her family again. Jesse Timmedequas, a two-time sex offender, took all of that away, brutally and permanently. Sexual offenders should be forced to register with the police department every time that they move into a new neighborhood and this information should be easily accessed by anyone."
Abstract This paper looks at the similarities between child abuse and pornography and the relationship between them. The author explores the world of pornography and its complex relationship to the world of child abuse. Pornography is discussed in detail investigating its effects and whether it createsa predisposition in certain individuals to commit violent sexual acts.
From the Paper "Before delving into an analysis of child abuse, child rape, and child pornography, the issue of pornography itself must be examined. Pornography is an extremely muddy issue. Does sexually explicit material have a detrimental effect on the individual? Does access to pornography contribute to misogynistic tendencies and sexism? Or on a more extreme level, does it create a predisposition in certain individuals to commit violent sexual acts? Indeed, even the definition of pornography is somewhat in dispute.
There are two types of material that are often considered pornographic. In the first type, males or females of an appropriate age are depicted in erotic poses. They are presented as equal partners without subjugation or any sign of violence. This first type of pornography is often referred to as erotica. The Playboy or Penthouse magazines would be an excellent example of this type of pornography that has been developed for males. Conversely, Playgirl magazine or one of the many romance/erotica novels available at local bookstores would be the equivalent for women."
Abstract MTV is considered a station that supports and perpetuates dangerous stereotypes and contributes to the dumbing down of 18-24 year olds all over the world. This paper examines literature and published studies on the subject where the common thread is noted that MTV contributes to a low level of self esteem, eating disorders, violence and gender stereotypes among young people.
From the Paper "The portrayal of women in MTV music videos and commercials made for MTV have been the subject of controversy for a long time. According to Else, males who watch MTV have a "greater belief in rape myths, more conservative sex-role stereotyping, greater belief in sex role stereotyping, greater belief in adversarial relationships between the sexes, more conservative attitudes towards women, lower ratings of victim injury in a date-rape scenario, and a greater tendency to classify events in a date rape scenario as forced sex rather than rape" (Else, 1995).
Given the amount of time young men spend watching MTV, is it any surprise that the incidence of rape is as high as it is in the United States? If this study resembles reality at all, these young men don?t even think they have done anything wrong. MTV is promoting an attitude that is physically dangerous for young women and dangerous also for the young men, who will be surprised to find themselves in jail for crimes they did not even know they were committing. That is, if the female, who has been drained of self-esteem by this very institution has the courage and the self respect left to press charges against him."
Abstract Proposes a study to determine whether family structure can explain poor academic performance. Impact of traditional & non-traditional families on variations of academic performance. Discusses theoretical context & theories of human development (Piaget & Vygotsky); prior conflicting studies on the topic. Stanford 9 Achievement Test. Methodology, research design, data collection. Table of Contents.
From the Paper The Impact of Family Structure
on Student Achievement
Abstract Discusses the changing makeup of families. Changes from 1950s concept of the nuclear family. Examines effects of new types of alternative families on the developing child. Changes in natue of childhood. Conflicts causes by single parenting. Issues of single income, interparental conflict, psychological abuse. Value of the extended family.
From the Paper "In the perfect television world of the sitcom, most families have two parents, and those families with one parent are either so well adjusted that the children are counseling their peers at school or so maladjusted that they become icons for bad children everywhere. In the real world, there are more and more single parent families, or families made up of multiple marriages or relationships on either side. Indeed, the definition of "family" has undergone a drastic change from the 1950s concept of the nuclear family (father, mother, child) to one that is more loosely defined as groups of people connected by blood and marriage; sometimes connected simply by virtue of the fact that even though these two criteria are not met, they are "considered family." In the midst of this knew type of family a new type of child has developed. This paper will examine the effects that..."
Abstract Discusses ways in which movies, television, radio, print and the Internet influence teenage attitudes, self-image and behaviors. Negative effects of media emphasis on thinness. Relationship between media & self-esteem. How film, TV & music affirm the validity of sexual activity for teens; alcohol use. Aggression & violence.
From the Paper "The Effect of Media on Teenagers
The media exerts an enormous, almost a normative influence, over the lives of men, women, adolescents and children. It influences, particularly among teenagers, the ways in which individuals and groups dress, talk, behave, and think (Teen People, p. 28). The media, in the forms of movies, television, radio, and print as well as the new electronic communications medium of the Internet, helps to connect individuals to one another and to the world; invariably, this powerful influence shapes the ways in which viewers or participants perceive the world and their own place within that world. Given that teenagers are often highly impressionable and subject to such influences, this report will consider the effects of media on this particular age group. Specifically, the report will consider the ways..."
Abstract Discusses the role of communication. How the use of interpersonal communication skills can be used to deal with conflict involved in divorce. The social process of interpersonal communication. The role trust plays. Behavioral system balance. Conflict avoidance. The sociology and psychology of emotions. Various therapeutic theories and approaches. Need for open communication.
From the Paper "ROLE OF COMMUNICATION IN CONFLICT MANAGEMENT RELATED TO DIVORCE
Introduction
This research reviews and analyzes the role of communication in conflict management strategies applied in couples situations involving divorce. The presentation of the findings of the review discuss (1) interpersonal communication, (2) behavioral system balance, (3) conflict avoidance, and (4) communication in couples situations involving divorce or the potential of divorce.
Interpersonal Communication
Dealing effectively with situations involving interpersonal conflict requires the development and use of interpersonal communication skills. Interpersonal communication is defined as the process linking discontinuous living entities with one ..."
Abstract Marijuana has been removed from society in such a way as to leave questions open about just why it was suppressed just when it was beginning to be so profitable. The paper looks at how and why the government is keeping marijuana illegal even though there is strong hope in its medicinal purposes.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
History
Conspiracy Theory
Various Uses of Marijuana
The Counter Culture on the Web
Conclusion
From the Paper "A great deal of political maneuvering seems to have been done to make pot illegal. Many people involved in the culture of producing and using marijuana seem to feel this was done for two main reasons; one, to eliminate competition for other companies and two, to try and control what people do for entertainment. The major person behind this was Harry Anslinger. He apparently became the Commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (position preceding the DEA) with the help of his uncle, Andrew Mellon. Andrew Mellon not only owned Gulf Oil, he also owned the bank that backed DuPont. Hence, it was in the family interest to eliminate marijuana from the American society, allowing DuPont to step in with its synthetic materials and fill the gap in the hemp industry. Anslinger did just this using what ever mean he found effective; racism, fear and misinformation (American Hemp History)."
Tags: illegal, drug, medicinal, culture, entertainment
Abstract This paper examines how, like television, video games have been seen to have negative effects on the players - mostly children. It asks how do violent games effect children's behavior; and is there any effect from autonomous play verses cooperative play. Gender issues are also analyzed showing differing levels of violence between boys and girls. The paper provides a general background and history of the development of video games. Commentary on the outcome of these effects are also discussed, primarily the rating system introduced in the early 1990s.
From the Paper "In 1971, Arthur Bushnell, the inventor of Atari, came up with a revolutionary game: Pong. Pong was a lot like Ping Pong with simple rules: Get the little ball passed your opponents paddle. It became extremely popular. After Pong the next hot game was Space Invaders which was released by Taito in 1979. It was a ?shoot "em up" game that also was loved by millions worldwide and soon gained a massive following. Soon after this Pac Man became the most popular game. Pac Man was a simplistic game: Take Pac Man around the maze and eat all of the dots, but avoid the ghosts: Blinky, Inky, Pinky and Clyde. If you get a power capsule you can eat the ghosts. Pac Man was an overnight success that really established the future for video games."
Tags: atari, violence, gender, rating, play, nintendo, playstation
Abstract This paper examines how divorce in the United States is especially devastating to women and children because it contributes to the feminization of poverty. It looks at how divorce tends to be harder on women than men because men are more likely to have careers and jobs while the women are more likely to be dependent. Women thus emerge from a marriage on the average in worse financial shape than do males. It also analyzes whether whether delinquency and other social problems are the result of divorce itself or of the poverty that often accompanies it.
From the Paper "Women have assumed a dual role in the U.S. almost without it
being noted, and they have done so by combining work outside the
home with their domestic and child care responsibilities. Social
tensions producing more and more divorce contributed to the
growing number of families with women as head of household. Many
of these women are under-educated and under-trained and cannot
get good enough jobs to support their families, and in addition
they must continue in their role as mother (and now father) at
the same time. This is an unintended consequence of liberalized
divorce laws on the one hand and economic problems for certain
communities on the other."
Tags: delinquency, children, child, care, economics
Abstract This paper determines if it is possible for all intermediate schools and high schools in the United States to acknowledge that the use of "illegal substances" (i.e. controlled drugs and alcohol) by students has become a serious issue that not only endangers the well being of the student bodies, the faculties and the administrations, but also threatens the educational goals of the various schools. The purpose of this is to establish a policy of open information concerning substance abuse, one that will officially state that schools will no longer tolerate any attempts by parents, students, government agencies, or other interest groups to make the issue seem less critical than it is. The paper examines the current scope of the problem. It explores three separate approaches to the problem - a curative approach (The Effective Drug Control Strategy program), a preventative strategy (the DARE program) the POSIT strategy for screening offenders. The paper concludes that the Effective Drug Control Strategy would be the most effective in dealing with drug abuse in American schools.
From the Paper "The most widely known (and sometimes praised) program is "DARE," a program of slides, booklets, T-shirts and so on, that is aimed at fourth and fifth graders. A recent editorial in the Detroit News made some stunning and highly defensible arguments against DARE. The editorial was based on a news story in the same paper that pointed out that there was no difference in crime or drug abuse incidents between 33 local school districts that offered DARE and others that didn't."
This paper is a literature review of youth gangs in schools, focusing on a historical overview, characteristics and traits of youth gang members and prevention of youth gang membership and activity.
Abstract This paper explains that, although youth gang activities in schools continue to increase, intensify and spread to small towns and rural areas, youth gangs are not new. The author believes that,when institutions and moral visions fail, then individuals will try to manufacture structures to replace them; in the case of youth gangs, the creators of these structures are young people, with little experience of the world and little knowledge of alternatives. This paper points out that a common sign of gang activity moving into the neighborhood or into the region of the school is graffiti, which is one of the most common ways for gangs to communicate, identify their turf, issue challenges and attract other adherents.
Table of Contents
Background
Organization of Review
Historical Overview
Characteristics and Traits
Prevention
Rationale for Study
Summary and Conclusions
From the Paper "This is an important historical development, representing the extension of gang behavior and gang culture into new regions of the country and with new styles. While the gangs may have begun in imitation of such gangs as the Crips and Bloods, and may still wear typical gang clothing and paraphernalia, they are more of an organization of those youth who are prone to violence and delinquent behavior than they are instances of ethnic turf battles. Again, another movie might be helpful in thinking about these kinds of gangs. The movie Grease portrayed a certain class of young teen-agers who had clothing, culture, and behaviors in common. Yet, they were not seen as youth gangs, but as a faction or clique within the overall high school environment. In 1999, however, these greasers are more likely to be organized into youth gangs of the type identified in Puyallup. They have borrowed some of the behavior and culture from the urban gangs, become more organized, and engaged in more conflict between groups. They tend to harass and intimidate the other students."
Abstract This paper examines the idea of teenage sexuality, asking whether it is necessarily a bad thing for teenagers to engage in sex or if in some circumstances it is a good thing. It looks at how when the talk of the problems of teenage sexuality come up today in the mass media and in the world of popular culture, the problematic aspects of it are considered to be teen pregnancy and the transmission of STDS among teenagers. It shows that while there is certainly talk of the importance of abstinence, it has become an accepted part of American culture that teenagers will have sex. It also explores why and how such a dramatic shift in cultural attitudes about teenage sexuality has come about. It looks at such issues as why we now warn teenagers about AIDS but still cannot talk to them about the morals of sex.
From the Paper "Sex is attractive to teenagers for the obvious reason--it is a pleasurable and often emotionally satisfying activity--and it is worth postponing for many teenagers until after marriage only if marriage seems likely to be a firm possibility, and at a relatively young age. When marriage becomes less important, the idea of premarital sex as both something that is wrong and as a category entirely separate from simply "sex" becomes hard to maintain. Studies of historical patterns of teenage birthrates suggest that from the first generation of women to achieve some measure of financial independence, sex without the burdens of marriage becomes attractive (Odem, 1995, p. 51)."
Abstract The paper looks at the issue of teenage pregnancy as it has affected and continues to affect the population of African Americans. The writer takes a look at the history of African Americans in American society and how external forces influence the number of teenage pregnancies. The paper includes an interview with a young mother, and concludes with a study of the causes and suggested solutions.
From the Paper "Melissa is a 17-year-old African American. She is a single mother with a two-year-old son. Last week, she had an abortion because she did not have the financial resources to take care of another child. According to Melissa, she ?is never lucky with men.? She asserts that she has unprotected sex with her boyfriends only when she feels that she is ?going to spend the rest of her life with them.? Yet when she gets pregnant, the relationship starts falling apart. In retrospect, she realizes that her boyfriends who are usually five to ten years older than her treat her ?like a plaything.? While they are affectionate during the relationship, the pregnancy and the prospect of a committed relationship frighten them away."
