Overview
Art and culture
News media
School
Public policy
History
Take action
Miscellaneous
Old stuff
overview
- Ageism on Trial
- A primer on the subject of this site. A true courtroom drama, and a thought-provoking exploration of prejudice — all in one little essay.
art and culture
- The Hollywood Dream Factory vs. Youth
- Thoughts on a Hollywood cliché and a list of "hit movies."
- Child-Abusing Film-Maker
- Jeepers Creepers director Victor Salva attacked at least one child. Now Hollywood pays him to make films relishing this act.
- Attacking Child Victims
- Pop-culture stigmatizing abused children.
- Those People are Looking at Our Women
- The myth of the young sexual predator promoted by the entertainment industry.
- Pro-Youth Film Critiques
- In this section of the Pro-Youth Pages, we offer in-depth analysis of individual movies, including:
- Weak Superheroes
- Even when young characters have super powers, old artists insist they be weak.
- Young Heroes in Horror Movies
- Why was "I Know What You Did Last Summer" the most significant horror film of the last 20 years? Because it let young people be heroes.
- Veronica Mars
- The greatest cultural revolution of our time — and it's on television!
- Crime Against Youth
- How mystery novels treat youth. It covers works by:
- Joyce Carol Oates
- Patricia Cornwell
- Scott Turow
- Robert B. Parker
- Sue Grafton
- Sara Paretsky
- Andrew Vachss
- plus Nancy Drew and other YA's
- Dennis Lehane's Nosedive
- A review of Lehane's novel Sacred.
- J.D. Salinger Poem
- A fresh look at Catcher in the Rye gives new meaning to "poetry slam."
- The Blind Spot in Black History Month
- Why do people overlook these contributions teenagers made to the American Civil Rights Movement? Maybe we need a Youth History Month.
- October declared Youth History Month
- Barbara John, Eliza Lucas Pinkney, and other youths made dramatic contributions to history. It's time they were honored.
news media
- Wilding Journalists
- From the Central Park jogger case to the Ryan Harris murder, reporters will jump on any excuse to vilify youth.
- The Republican Terrorist and Media Bias
- A recent act of terror by a Republican Party activist offers an illustration of media bias against youth.
- How Ted Koppel Dug his own Grave
- Why newsman Ted Koppel almost lost his job to David Letterman.
school
- Successful Schools Finally Found - in Finland
- Less restricive schools lead to greater education, as proven in Finland.
- Naming your Teacher, Naming Yourself
- Should you call your teacher "Mr." even when he calls you by your first name? Here are some thoughts on defying this double-standard.
public policy
- Curfew Laws
- Analyzing curfew laws in America. Are they effective? Are they justifiable? Are they morally appropriate?
- Draft Rangel; I'm staying here
- Rep. Chuck Rangel wants to draft young men and women into the military. Here's a better idea: let's draft Rangel.
- "Service Learning"
- Forced "volunteer work" isn't just slavery with a happy face. It hurts our economy, too.
- A Hurtful Penumbra
- Examines the current U.S. Supreme Court Justices, plus Pres. George W. Bush, in their treatment of youth. Along the way, it tackles such issues as:
- Age-based censorship
- Abortion age-limits
- Drug testing in schools
- Double-standards in sexual harassment law
- Child visitation rights
- Death Penalty Double-Standard
- The Supreme Court is at it again.
- The Pledge of Allegiance vs. Freedom
- In the Summer of 2002, America suddenly had this flap about the Pledge of Allegiance. Here are some thoughts about the Pledge and students' rights.
- Civics Kept out of Classrooms
- Civics is one school subject that could empower youth to influence public policy. But in California, among other states, the Department of Education robs students of any chance to learn civics.
- Wasted
- America's war on drugs has been wrongly directed against youth. A recent study shows that one attack plan (the use of TV ads) badly misfired, and the latest casualty in the war on drugs is the myth that youth are impressionable.
- The Right to Drive
- After an elderly driver killed 10 people, we ask why the right to drive is so sacred when it comes to the elderly, but not when it comes to youth.
- The Disenfranchised
- Thoughts on democracy.
- Philip Morris
- The tobacco co. promotes prejudice for fun and profit. This essay was originally confined to the Pro-Youth Pages boycott section. But the essay has been revamped and now holds so much information it deserves this stand-alone position.
history
- Berkeley Free Speech Movement
- In the 1960's, U.C. Berkeley was as oppressive as many high schools are today. Here's how a group of students rose up and changed the school rules, forcing the school to treat them more fairly.
take action
- Best Companies to Boycott
- A few companies that rank among the worst in hurting youth. Depriving them of your money could do a lot of good.
- Our Email List
- Get on it!
miscellaneous
- The Latest
- Quick thoughts on items in the news. This page will be updated once every so often.
- Author Image
- Bill immortalized for the ages.
- Resources
- Links, recommended reading, and more. For when the Pro-Youth Pages just isn't enough.
old stuff
- 5 Reasons to Like Howard Dean
- Presidential candidate Howard Dean has excited youth, and for good reason. He may be the most youth-friendly candidate to come along in years.
- Stand Up to John Kerry
- Sen. John Kerry, one the Democratic candidates for President in 2004, is even worse than Joe Lieberman on youth issues, and that's saying something. Here's how you can help reform John Kerry, and keep him out of the Whitehouse if he refuses to reform.
- John Kerry Ducks our Questions
- John Kerry tries to appease youth advocates with non-statements.
- Ralph Nader
- Ralph Nader supports youth rights. Should youth-advocates support Nader?
- Help Mitchell Crooks
- After Crooks videotaped police beating Donovan Jackson, police retaliated by arresting Crooks. Here are details, plus info on how you can contribute to Crooks's defense.
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