Scholastic Choices articles from February 2003

Scholastic Choices archives from February 2003

Smoking out smokers. (Substance Abuse).
February 1, 2003... A new test may be coming to a bathroom near you. A growing number of schools in the U.S. are asking students to prove they are tobacco free by urinating in a cup. Last June, the U.S. Supreme Court gave mandatory drug testing a boost when...

Surfing angels. (Teen News).
February 1, 2003... Next time you surf the Internet, you should thank Teenangels for being on the job. Teenangels is an international group of Internet-savvy youth, ages 13-17, working to make the World Wide Web safer for surfing. Teenangels' main goal is to...

Energy bars or candy? (Nutrition).
February 1, 2003... Steel. PowerBar. Luna. The names of energy bars read like characters from The X-Men. But a closer look reveals most are candy bars in disguise. Sales of energy bars have soared, reaching $405 million in 2001. They were originally cooked up...

Growing confusions. (Health).
February 1, 2003... Feeling dazed, confused, and socially inept? A recent study indicates you may have a neurological excuse--your teen brain is being "remodeled," says Professor Robert McGivern of San Diego State University. Research shows that during...

AEDs. (Personal Responsibility).
February 1, 2003... February is American Heart Month. This month, get trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). CPR--the chest-thumping, mouth-to-mouth procedure to keep blood and oxygen f lowing--has saved untold lives. While you're at it, get...

Teens & cancer: cancer strikes more than 12,000 kids and teenagers a year. Discover how young people afflicted with this deadly disease are coping and, in many cases, thriving. (Health).
February 1, 2003... Scott Odom began his freshman year of high school ready to play ball. He was 14 and his family had recently moved to Joshua, Texas. New to the area, Scott saw playing on the football team as a way to make his mark at his new school. An...

Giving up Matthew: placing a baby for adoption is one of the toughest decisions a person can make. But for one teen mother, it was the only choice. (Personal Responsibility/Family).
February 1, 2003... She says it's the hardest thing she's ever done, and also the best thing she's ever done. Amber Munoz gave her newborn baby boy up for adoption. She was 13 at the time. Now in her early 20s, Amber says she thinks about the baby, whom she named...

Heads up real news about drugs and your body: "E" is for empty; ecstasy use left Daniel feeling worthless and alone. (Close-Up: Ecstasy).
February 1, 2003... Daniel Oerum, 17, of San Clarita Valley, California, wanted prom night to be special. So, he reached into his tuxedo pocket and took out pills stamped with images of Tweety Bird and Buddha. Ecstasy (also called E, X, XTC, Adam, hug, love drug,...

Know your rights on the job! If you work, take this quiz to learn about what your boss can and can't legally ask you to do. (Careers).
February 1, 2003... CODY HUNTER, 17, was taking apart a display as part of his job in a crafts store when a piece of metal shelf crashed down on his head. "I was bleeding pretty badly," says Cody, who lives in Brockton, Massachusetts. "My boss asked me if I needed...

The great American Sandwich: sinking your teeth into a sandwich can be quite satisfying, but be careful what you choose to bite into. (Nutrition).
February 1, 2003... Legend has it that the sandwich came about during a card game played in 18th-century England by John Montagu, the fourth Earl of Sandwich. It is said that he was so addicted to gambling that he refused to stop--even for meals. To keep...

Wrap it up: got a gift for that special someone this Valentine's Day? Here's how to wrap it. (Living).
February 1, 2003... 1. Put the present inside a box. 2. Choose wrapping paper and the cut the paper to size. 3. Place the wrapping paper, design-side down, on a tabletop. 4. Put the box--upside down--in the center of the paper. 5. Begin with the...

Vision quest: you may wear glasses, but do you know why you have to? Here's an explanation. (Your Body & Mind).
February 1, 2003... DO YOU WEAR GLASSES OR CONTACT LENSES? If you don't, chances are you know someone who does. Many people suffer from one kind of vision problem or another. Understanding why your eyes work and what can go wrong with them is...

Help! My mom and I are always fighting! (The Advice Corner).
February 1, 2003... MARLENE TEDESCHI ANSWERS YOUR TOUGH QUESTIONS Q. I do not like my mother these days. Sometimes she and I get along, but a lot of times we don't. It seems that things are falling apart between us. She tells me that she doesn't like me and I...

Celebrating Valentine's Day. (10 Tips).
February 1, 2003... WHETHER YOU'RE CRAZY IN LOVE OR LOVE DRIVES YOU CRAZY, THESE TIPS WILL HELP YOU MAKE VALENTINE'S DAY, A DAY TO REMEMBER. 1. Hurrah for Hollywood Have a movie marathon. Looking for Jove? Rent Shakespeare in Love. Want relief from...

Sticky situation. (Students Helping Students).
February 1, 2003... The problem: Dear CHOICES, A bully always picks on me. I can't fight him because I would get in trouble with my parents. I can't get him in trouble because he has friends who would get to me. What should I do? Beat on by Bully ...