2/17/10 Teen News: local(∆) and national

(∆)DSA grad wins car design contest - Sean Coleman’s design for an eco-friendly car beat 1 million other designs to win the Shell Eco-Marathon Americas (SEMA) Urban Concept Car Competition.  He learned to sculpture as a student at Durham School of Arts and his prototype will be built this fall.  “Designed for, not highway use, but getting to work in the city, making a small run to the grocery store. I guess it’s the moped of the car world,” he said. (WTVD)

Student can sue over Facebook suspension – A federal judge decided that a Florida student can proceed with her case against a school district that suspended for creating a Facebook page that was critical of her English teacher.  “This is an important victory both for Ms. Evans and Internet free speech,” her lawyer said, “because it upholds the principle that the right to freedom of speech and expression in America does not depend on the technology used to convey opinions and ideas.” (NYT)

(∆)Knightdale student lobbies for AP class – When Knightdale High School decided not to offer an AP chemistry class, award-winning scientist Chelsea Sumner has rallied and organized her peer students to revamp the science program.  She texted friends. She visited classrooms. She talked it up. And now, one month later, she has names of 30 people who want to take the AP course. (East Wake News)

Profile of 14-year-old political pundit - Author of best-selling book Defining Conservatism: The Principles that will Bring Our Country Back, 14-year-old Jonathan Krohn is conservatism’s youngest star.  “Here’s the deal,” he says, “I’m not like a lot of my colleagues who think President Obama’s goal is trying to harm the country. That’s insanity. That’s out there. That’s loony tunes.” (Daily Beast)

(∆)Wake County school chief Del Burns resigns (N&O)

Tuesday’s teen news – local(∆) and national

STD’s among teens still on rise - Researchers point to abstinence-only sex education for continual increase of chlamydia, gonorrhea,and  syphillis. “Overall, CDC estimates that 19 million new sexually transmitted infections occur each year, almost half among 15- to 24-year-olds.” (MSNBC)

(∆) Teen researcher could win $100,000 – NC School of Science and Math senior Lanair Lett has reached the finals of the 2009 Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology for his work on genes and diabetes.”My grandmother always told me that talent is ten percent and everything else is hard work,” the 17 year-old said with a big grin on his face. “I think I’m more of a testament to that than being a whiz kid.” (MY NC)

ACORN ‘prostitute’ is conservative rock star - Conference of conservatives honors Hannah Giles, the young woman who initiated and starred in the “pimp and ho” video that took down ACORN. In her lecture Friday about how to take down liberal organizations and expose what she called media corruption, Giles sought to stir others to action. “Above all, attack, attack, attack,” she said, quoting Republican consultant Roger Stone. “Never defend.” (LA Times)

‘Unfriend’ is 2009 dictionary’s ‘Word of the Year’ - New Oxford American Dictionary’s 2009 Word of the Year’s other finalists were netbook and sexting. (News and Observer)

Monday’s teen news – local(∆) and national

Obama wants longer school year - President wants longer school day, more time in class and shorter school year to compete with schools in other nations. “Now, I know longer school days and school years are not wildly popular ideas,” the president said earlier this year. “Not with Malia and Sasha, not in my family, and probably not in yours. But the challenges of a new century demand more time in the classroom.” (AP)

New twist on female hazing – ‘Slut List’ at prestigious NJ school shows taunts are more explicit and that it is now a badge of honor to be taunted, to be labeled as sexually promiscuous. “Being on the list means you are rich, you wear expensive clothing, and probably fall under the general umbrella of attractiveness. Essentially, the slut list is the Goldman Sachs daughters list, a distorted assertion of wealth and power within a highly pressured upper middle class environment.” (NY Times)

Teens struggle to adjust from weight loss surgery – Stories of three San Diego teens who lost a combined 250 pounds through gastric-bypass surgery. “I thought I was going to just lose all the weight and everything would be good,” said Shelby, now 18, who gradually dropped 90 pounds after surgery in October 2007 but put back 13 this past summer. “I still like to eat as much as I did before, and I still dislike exercising.” (SD Tribune)

Challenges of h.s. to college transition – 90% of high school graduates want to attend college, 72% enroll but only 41% ever complete a 2- or 4-year college.  According to the author, the reasons students struggle in college: lack basic math and English skills, lack of work habits and study skills, and difficulty adjusting to a new environment. (KC Star)

(∆) Durham celebrates ‘Banned Book Week’ - At a library event on Sunday, actors recreated scenes from ‘A Clockwork Orange,’ ‘Go Tell It on The Mountain,” How The Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents,’ etc.  Other events to follow this week.  (Durham Herald)

Thursday’s teen news – Local(∆) and national

Which students will graduate from college? – New study addresses 54% college graduation rate, says that a B average in high school is a more likely indicator of success than a high SAT or ACT score.  Also concludes that community colleges are not a wise investment and that affluent kids are much more likely likely to succeed than poorer students. (US News)

Utah teen leads fight for more comprehensive sex ed – 17-year-old is leading statewide movement for sex ed policy that allows teachers to show students how to use contraceptives.  Conservative critics say she should not be in this debate because of her age. “If they’re going to be uncomfortable when I say that,” Waitzman said, “how are they ever going to feel comfortable talking to their kids?” (Salt Lake Tribune)

School district bans Obama, students to meet Bush – Texas school district wouldn’t allow students to hear Obama speech but will take students on a field-trip next month to hear former President Bush speak. “The distinction is it’s a field trip that parents have to grant permission for students to attend,” said a spokeswoman. (USA Today)

Why does Freshman Fifteen happen?  - Access to pleasure food all the time, change of schedule, and lack of exercise. (Daily Tar Heel)

Court upholds ban on religious song in school – Federal appeals panel ruled a Washington school did not violate a girl’s First Amendment rights by forbiding her from playing Christian hymn “Ave Maria” at a graduation ceremony. (NY Times)

Star of Glee dropped out of high school – “It wasn’t for me,” Cory Monteith says about school. “I can remember ever since about the sixth or seventh grade, I just didn’t understand why I had to learn what I was learning. For some reason, there was a spirit of rebellion in me.”(E Online)

Friday’s teen news – local(∆) and national

Some parents oppose Obama’s speech to schools - Obama’s speech, which will be streamed live on the web into schools, will urge students to work hard and stay in school. Conservatives accuse Obama of trying to indoctrinate their children with socialist ideals.  Schools feel they are in a no-win situation: either disrespect the president or open themselves to criticism from conservative groups. (NY Times)

Are teen pregnancy shows good? – Do these shows, especially on MTV, present the challenges of teen pregnancy or turn them into celebrities? (Baltimore Sun)

Chris Brown fans react to apology vs. Reaction of domestic abuse experts – “We support him” vs. unacceptable and contemptible. (MTV)

Family history linked to acne in teens – Teens are more likely to have moderate to severe acne if their parent had problems with acne, especially the mother. There was also evidence that eating greasy foods leads to more severe acne. (Reuters)

Anti-obesity pills for teens causing worry – More teens taking anti-obesity pills but they are proving not to be effective in teens who don’t change their diet.  (Sky News)