Editorial

Editor’s Update R. Morgan Pigg, Jr.

The Peer Review Panel

and dedicated group of colleagues who comprise our peer review panel. Thanks to their dedication and expertise, we can bring to our readers the best material available. Please take a moment to recog- nize them for their contribution.

On the following page, we recognize the capable

1995 Special Features We published two special features during 1995.

The October 1995 issue shared information from the School Health Policies and Programs Study. Conducted by CDC’s Division of Adolescent and School Health, SHPPS gave us a current and comprehensive look at school health programs nationwide. The October 1995 issue was prepared for distribution at the DASH session held at ASHA’S 1995 national conference in Milwaukee, Wis. Also, the November 1995 issue contained a special feature titled School Health Nursing Services: Exploring National Issues and Priorities. This feature reported results from a conference of national lead- ers concerning recommendations for the future of school nursing. Both these special features provided valuable information in the efforts to promote comprehensive school health programs.

Some Thoughts About Teen-Agers

man this year, continuing a 14-year “in-service” on child grovvth and development that has taught me more than coursework ever could. During the previous year, four young people from the high school she attends died in accidents. At least three of the deaths involved alcohol. The deaths trig- gered both introspection and criticism in our community, with more of the latter.

criticism heaped on today’s teen-agers. From the

Our daughter, Kelly, became a high school fresh-

These tragedies opened my eyes to the immense

R. Morgan Pigg, Jr., HSD, MPH, FASHA, Professor, Dept. of Health Science Education, P.O. Box 118210, Florida Gym 5, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 3261 1-82 10.

young person’s perspective, even constructive criti- cism offered in love, as from parents, can seem cold and insensitive. B e quiet for a moment and listen to some of the words society uses to describe teen- agers: loud, rude, impatient, immature, disrespect- ful, undisciplined, irreverent, unreliable. The criti- cism extends to their clothes, their music, their rooms, their friends. Even successful kids often are criticized for not doing better.

Living closely around teen-agers has confirmed my belief that no child is inherently “bad.” With the possible exception of bio-medical complications, children have an equal potential for positive or negative development. As adults, we help deter- mine the direction. Consider those activities that we label negative risk behaviors of youth such as violence and substance use. Typically, society blames the young person for the behavior. However, if we search far enough, the trail to virtu- ally every one of these behaviors eventually leads to an adult. In some cases, adults failed in their responsibility to lead and protect, while other cases involve blatant greed and exploitation. Rather than face the real issues, society blames the children and asks why they went wrong. To find the real source of blame, we should look more closely at our televi- sion sets - or in the bathroom mirror.

When I look at the teen-agers who pass through our house, I see some of the criticisms listed above, but I also see courage, confidence, energy, opti- mism, and a refreshing willingness to work, to learn, and to try new things. If my recollection of history serves me correctly, teen-agers have accomplished some remarkable things in the past, and they have that same potential today. This positive potential applies to all teen-agers, regardless of the demo- graphic boxes into whch we force them.

Regardless of how we view their behavior, imag- ine a world without teen-agers. We would miss them. They need guidance, support, protection, and praise. They need real role models and caring adults in their lives. They don’t need undue criti- cism. Excuse me while I go tell my teen-ager I appreciate her -while I still have time. rn

Journal of School Health January 1996. Vol. 66. No. 1 1 1

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als who take time from full schedules to provide manuscript reviews. These individuals serve with no compensation and with little recognition. On behalf of our readers worldwide, we extend our sincere appreciation to these colleagues.

Mary Lou Abbott John P. Allegrante Diane D. Allensworth David J. Anspaugh Charles R. Baffi William J. Bailey Susan C. Baldi Becky Banks Stephen E. Barnett Karen Basen-Engquist Charles E. Basch Robert J. Baugh Ruth M. Bellocchio E.G. Belzer Mary K. Beyrer Robert E. Billingham Jeffrey L. Black John A. Bonaguro Warren D. Boskin Andrew J.J. Brennan Ronald T. Brown Clint E. Bruess Elizabeth C. Bumpus Herman S. Bush Jean Byrne Donald L. Calitri W. William Chen Chwee Lye Chng Peter A. Cortese Julia Cowell Darrell Crase William H. Creswell Susan B. Crowell Akbar Davami Deborah A. Deatrick Darwin Dennison Steve M. Dorman Mildred E. Doster Judy C. Drolet &chard M. Eberst James M. Eddy Ruth C. Engs Carol Flaherty-Zonis Mohammed R. Forouzesh Stuart W. Fors Lois Frels M. Josephine Gaines Nicholas A. Galli John E. Gay Joann Gephart Rosemary K. Gerrans Glen G. Gilbert Mattye Glass Elbert D. Glover

Robert S. Gold Joseph F. Governali Ross E. Gutman Dale B. Hahn Marian V. Hamburg Vivian K. Harlin Philip Heit Charlotte M. Hendricks Victoria Hertel Donna Hill Roberta B. Hollander Joyce W. Hopp Betty M. Hubbard Marjorie F. Hughes Marianne I. Hurlbert Nicholas K. Iammarino Judith Igoe Donald C. Iverson Wanda H. Jubb Laura Kann Robert Kaplan Hans G. Keitel Douglas Kirby Sharon M. Knight Lloyd J. Kolbe John M. Lampe Lyn Lawrance Susan R. Levy Yuen Chow Liu David K. Lohrmann Georgia P. Macdonough Lani S. Majer Phillip J. Marty E.J. McClendon Robert J. McDermott Beverly J. McElmurry James F. McKenzie Joan D. McMahon Warren L. McNab Jane J. Micciche Mary L. Michal Dean F. Miller M. David Miller Philip R. Nader Lu Ann Nauman James J. Neutens Ian M. Newman Jerry Newton Melody P. Noland Ann E. Nolte Dorothy S. Oda Larry K. Olsen Thomas W. O’Rourke Jack D. Osman

Sandra L. Owen Douglas K. Ozias Jan Ozias Guy S. Parcel M. Elizabeth Pateman Janice Pearce Cheryl L. Perry Fred L. Peterson Richard A. Petosa John Piscopo Alfreda L. Price James H. Price Claudia K. Probart Candace 0. Purdy Donald H. Puretz Kerry J. Redican Glenn E. Richardson Barbara A. Rienzo Richard S. Riggs Laurna G. Rubinson John Santelli John B. Savage Michael J. Schaffer Earline Schnelle John R. Seffrin Arlene Sheffield Roger Shipley Lynn M. Short Robert Shute Bruce G. Simons-Morton Alicia A. Snyder La Rita Spence Stephen R. Sroka Glenn W. Steinhausen Elaine J. Stone Judith A. Sullivan Jon C. Swanson Marlene K. Tappe Howard L. Taras Susan Thomas Merita Thompson Mohammad R. Torabi Patrick K. Tow Carmine M. Valente Robert F. Valois Jill W. Varnes Linda A. Vaughan Janet P. Wallace Molly S. Wantz Armin Weinberg Barbara B. Wilks Jack L. Winkelman William L. Yarber

12 Journal of School Health January 1 9 9 6 , Vol. 66, No. 1