Frankenstein youth: should you be
afraid?
Anonymous
In the summer of 1816 a young woman named Mary Shelley used a bolt of lightning to give birth to a creation she called Frankenstein. To the three people Frankenstein murdered he was a vicious monster, but to his creator he was a lost child. For generations teens have been viewed as immature and irresponsible dangers, but to their parents they are still infants with a knack for attracting trouble.
According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry the average age of the first use of marijuana is 14. Alcohol is on average used before age 12. By nature teens are irrational and have a sense of being invincible. This may cause for them to make stupid decisions and may explain why they are at a higher risk for substance abuse. This may also explain why teens have a higher rate of car accidents than any other age group. Teens strive to gain independence and clarify who they are in the world. Not yet fitting into the world, teens are still experimenting.
Drivers' Edge tames monsters behind
the wheel
Teresa Foster
With their lack of experience and invincible mindset, teenage drivers are the monsters behind the wheel that frighten adults. Although statistics support this fear, teens may not be the only ones to blame for their poor driving skills.
Iowa law only requires teens to spend six hours behind the wheel with an instructor during drivers’ education classes. This is hardly enough time to teach them to think quickly and make safe decisions on the road.
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