Duke bonfire

Wednesday’s Teen News – local(∆) and national

(∆) Durham h.s. students tutoring students to read – Trinity High School students are taking a class to learn the Orton-Gillingham system of reading then using the knowledge to tutor low-income students at a local elementary school. “It sounds really cool,” said James, a varsity basketball player. “I love working with little kids. I’ve done basketball camps and worked at a Spanish camp. … So I love working with little kids. I love seeing how they learn. It seems like a great thing to do. I really hope we help a lot of people doing this.” (Durham Herald-Sun)

Feds outlaw flavored cigs to deter youth - FDA banned flavored cigarettes (chocolate, vanilla, clove, etc.) because they claim it encourages youth and teens to start smoking. In 2004, 17-year-old smokers were more than three times as likely as those over the age of 25 to smoke flavored cigarettes, and they viewed flavored cigarettes as safer. (NY Times)

Tyra Show hosts gay exorcist – Clips from Tyra Show with 16-year-old boy who claims his minister cured him of homosexuality, as seen in the exorcism that was posted on YouTube.  Tyra interview his minister, who says the boy will go to hell as long as he possesses any gay tendencies.  (Jezebel)

Tanning salon sting produces mixed results – College students posed as 15-year-old girls to see if tanning salons were following laws requiring teens under the age of 16 to obtain parental permission.  Most tanning salons followed regulations except allowing girls to tan every day when the law only allows six times per week.  (LA Times)

Teen sues Abercrombie & Fitch for discrimination – Muslim teen claims store refused to hire her because she wears a hijab.  Ambercromie says they hire models and therefore do not have to hire anyone who is not considered a model. (Daily Collegian)

Roxboro honors fallen soldier Richie Jones – Photos

(click images to enlarge – photos by wjzo.com)

Pfc. Richard “Richie” Kelvin Jones graduated from Person High School in 2006, joined the military in 2008, and was killed August 1, 2009 in Afghanistan by insurgents who attacked his patrol with bombs and rocket-propelled grenades.  Today, the townspeople of Roxboro lined the main street for a processional to honor the life and sacrifice of this young man.  The imagery reminded me of the RFK funeral pictures, where a million people lined the railroad between NYC and D.C. to pay tribute to Robert Kennedy.  According to the Defense Department, at least 686 members of the US military have died in the Aghan region since late 2001.  

 

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

Deaf teen wins motocross gold at X Games – Profile of teen sensation Ashley Fiolek, who’s goal is to qualify for men’s races. Her parents home school her because they believe”The deaf schools hold students back. Too many kids grew up thinking something was wrong with them.” (ESPN) photo by Steve Bonav

(∆) Lawsuit claims teen died from hazing – Fraternity pledges were to cross a dark field to find a rock with their name on it, but a lawsuit states that Harrison Kowiak, 19, of Lenoir-Rhyne University died from head injuries after being tackled repeatedly. (N&O)

Top 15 high school nicknames – Jackrabbits, Atom Smashers, Nimrods, Imps (SI)

(∆) Ex-Southeast star wins track championship – Southeast Raleigh High graduate Wayne Davis II won the Pan American Junior Championships in the 110 meter hurdles by running a junior world record time of 13.08 seconds. (N&O)

(∆) 7 more Guildford students ruled ineligible – NCHSAA has suspended 12 students for lying about living in the school district. (News 14)

Boston unveils new safe-sex campaign – With chlamydia rates in the city double the national average, Boston’s new safe-sex campaign will utilize ads featuring teens on MTV, BET, FX as well as chat groups on Facebook, MySpace, etc. (Boston.com)

Teen with cancer playing ball - Column profiles 13-year-old Hudson Davis who continues to play baseball while receiving harsh chemotherapy and radiation treatments for a brain tumor. (Mercury News)

New schools serve profoundly gifted – There are more than a dozen specialty high schools for gifted students and many colleges allow gifted students to take classes. The key to teaching gifted students, experts say, is allowing them to proceed at their own, accelerated pace. (AP)

10 best back-to-school Iphone aps – According to Mac World.

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

(∆) Columnist visits Clayton during proposed curfew – Clayton wants to establish 11 p.m. curfew so Ruth Sheehan toured the town with a police chief from 11 pm to 1 am and didn’t see a single person out. Police chief points out much more crime happens in the hours after school. Minister proposed curfew after home invasion, but the crime was neither committed by teens nor happened during the curfew hours. (News & Observer)

Teen catches criminals using Iphone ap – When his Iphone was stolen, 15-year-old Dustin Simantob traced it using the “Find My Iphone” to a house of criminals the police had been trying to arrest. ‘Now they had proof, so four policemen showed up at this house and ended up recovering our phones, my wallet and the GPS that had been stolen from our car.’ (Daily Mail)

Prescription pills: New drug of choice for teens – Easy to find and easy to use, pills are now the number one illicit drug for 12 and 13-year-olds. Very comprehensive article also covers how one town is trying to combat painkiller epidemic. (SF Chronicle)

Girl gets Twilight truck -Sterling’s parents declined to say how much they paid for the truck but said they purchased it with the understanding that their daughter would use it to help others. (Dallas News) photo by Jim Mahoney

Students sues coach over Facebook – Cheerleader gave coach her password, then coach suspended her from the team for profanity in her personal e-mails. (WAPT)

Gates’ arrest teachable moment – Black parents worry that “post-racial” youth are not aware of the potential dangers in dealing with the police. When the sons of Ashara Ekundayo were young, the Denver cultural worker taught them the lessons. “It’s like home training. You teach them not only what to say, but how to behave. How to hold your eyes. How to hold your hands. Whether to stand or not to stand. I don’t think white mommies have to teach these lessons. It’s something black and brown mommies have to do. It’s part of growing up.” (Washington Post)

Alaska journalism students go to Iraq – 3 University of Alaska students will be embedded with an Alaskan-based combat team, will file reports on Facebook and on the blog Short Timers. (US News)

H.S. students raise $100,000 for Jimmy Fund – 7 teens biked cross-country from Washington to Maine. (Boston.com)