The Idea Men are Plotting…

This article caught my eye immediately due to this phrase “…free from censorship by school officials”.  When I read the first couple lines: “A student newspaper in Los Angeles called L.A. Youth is giving a voice to teenagers, free from censorship by school officials. As Mike O’Sullivan reports, the paper deals with controversial issues from sexuality to violence, and such ordinary problems as getting a date in high school.”I thought to myself…this is unbelievable!It is about time there is some kind of a periodical out there that is for kids by kids.  Like what it is stated above, some touchy subjects that may not be talked about in a school setting is now blown open.  For example, Daniel Marx is in the process of writing an article on the issues of peer pressure and drinking.  Also Alana Folsom is writing an article on the pressures of getting into colleges.

I think I should analyze this newspaper from a Christensen aspect.  These kids are taking a topic that invokes some kind of an emotion and bringing to the tablet.  What is great as well is that peer pressure and college are topics that all high school students fear.  On a personal level, I had great anxiety of college and dealt with peer pressure when it came to consumption.  These articles can alleviate a lot of stress on others with these same thoughts.

But off of Christensen, what can this do for students and writing?  I figured it would be a positive experience toward a career as a journalist.  But according to the article, “most of the student writers do not want to pursue a career in journalism, but want to communicate their ideas, and find someone to listen”.  When I think about it, seeing how this is L.A. these kids may not have an adults to talk to but through their writing, they have a huge crowd to read their ideas.

Overall, this is my first time ever hearing about anything like this and I thin it is awesome.  I wish that more communities were willing to work with students to have them bring issues out of the schools and into the community.  Not only is this great for other students, but parents could read this and see what is important in a teenager’s life.

http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-10-08-voa55.cfm