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Teens have opinions too

Daniel Snider

2005-05-01 09:03:00

: What makes a good teacher?

ANSWER: In order to be a good teacher one must be skilled in many ways.  He or she must be able to apply educational short cuts for learning and remembering many new concepts.  A good teacher goes beyond his or her job of teaching and has a personal relationship with the students.  He or she is someone students can talk to about anything.  A good teacher doesn't take one look and judge a student based on his or her appearance.   The teacher gets to know his or her students for who they actually are on the inside.  He or she can give advice when a student needs it. When students need help, a good teacher is there to help them make decisions.  If a student makes a mistake and does something bad, a good teacher accepts that the student is only human, and he or she does not hold grudges. Even after years have passed a good teacher doesn't forget her students.  Even then he or she is someone the student can feel comfortable going to  for help.  It's not because I've had a teacher like this before.  She was and still is my favorite teacher.  This is what makes a good teacher.

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Teens have opinions too

Devinee Fitzgerald

2005-04-01 10:39:00

: Do parents always know what's best?

ANSWER: Parents often try to control more than they bargain for. They think they know best when it comes to which classes their kids should take, who their kids should hang with, and what sports their kids should play.Parents hold their own demanding positions in society and aren't as connected to their children as they think. While parents are working a nine to five job, we are growing up. We develop many new interests that probably won't come up in the thirty minutes we spend together at dinner. Some families have a stay at home mom or dad who insists on checking the son's or daughter's math homework every night. Those parents who push their way into their children's lives often find their kids starting to push away under pressure.Some people think that because a parent is older and more experienced and has more knowledge that they surely know best. Yes, it counts, but every person is unique, and experience and wisdom do not completely make up for individuality and the generation gap. Until you follow your kid around for a few days and become familiar with his or her circumstances, you can't truly know best. If you see similarities in the path your son or daughter is headed down and the one you were on as a teenager, you might share that with them. But don't assume that what was wrong for you is wrong for them, too. Do not try to control. Learn to guide.

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Teens have opinions too

Tiffany Orth

2005-04-01 10:35:00

Should teens be allowed to vote?

ANSWER: Voting is very important for Americans, especially around the four-year mark. The age limit to be able to vote is currently 18 years old. I believe the age limit should be dropped to a lower age limit.At 18 years old, the current voting age, one gets to vote for whom they want to be their president for the next four years. If the age requirement was to be lowered to 13 or 14, I think it would be more fair. At that younger age one should be able to vote for the candidates who have the best plan for education.Also, the government plans change with each president. By the time the younger teenagers are on their own, they would have had a chance to decide on how they want everything to be run according to what their favorite candidate said during the debates.I think having a lower required age for voting would benefit the nation. The age should at least be 13 to 14 years old so that young people can vote on how they want to live their futures.

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Teens have opinions too

Megan Edgington

2005-04-01 10:33:00

: Should teens be allowed to vote?

ANSWER:  I think younger teens should be allowed to vote. It seems unfair that they have to wait until they are 18 to vote for the next president. Teens should have choices too, but their choices are always pushed aside. Teens are not little kids. They are young adults who should have some of the same privileges as adults, such as voting. Waiting until one is 18 years old seems very pathetic. It's like living in the time when women and African Americans couldn't vote.I think the voting age should be pushed back to 16. You can drive a car when you are 16, yet you are not allowed to vote.Teens should be able to have a say about the people who are on the school board. They couldn't control the school board, but it would be nice to have some input since they govern our education.The most important reason teens should be able to vote at 16 is because by that age they have acquired enough knowledge, and they could have a real impact on the future.

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Teens have opinions too

Sean Austin

2005-04-01 10:26:00

: What makes a good parent?

ANSWER:  Most teenagers can't wait to move away from their parents and be on their own as they enter adulthood. I can't wait either, but I believe that what I've learned from my parents will stay with me for the rest of my life. I think the qualities that make a good parent are that they care for us, they set rules, and they understand.Parents show they care about us when they are strict. For some teenagers, that is punishment and seems unfair. But their parents are only being protective of them and trying to help them not make poor decisions. Sure I hate it when parents and adults are strict, but I also understand why they do it. It's because they are caring and loving people who are just trying to guide us in the right direction and to set good examples. Parents, and all adults, should be good role models for their teenagers because it can have a powerful effect on them. If they are poor role models, some teenagers may make inappropriate decisions, and they could find themselves in trouble with the wrong people or even the law.When parents set rules, they are trying to protect us and teach us not to make the wrong decisions. This is one of the main problems between teenagers and parents, and it often starts arguments. Some teens try to protest because they believe that the rules that have been set are not fair. But the rules are for the teen's protection. Without restrictions, some teenagers become rebellious and get into trouble. It is important for teens to have structure and some limits.A good parent also understands. A parent is someone who a teenager should be able to talk to when he or she is feeling down or is in need of guidance. That is an important role for a parent. If the parent does not understand, the child is likely to become lost, and communication may break down.A good parent should always be there for his or her child. Without parents or some kind of parent figure, a teenage is likely to fall into the adult world with no experience and poor values. So parents, be there for your kids.