In Brief: Sep. 27, 1999

YOU CAN’T HAVE THE KEYS To combat the high rate of teenage driving accidents, eight states last year instituted “graduated licensing” for those under 18. Restrictions such as not allowing kids to drive at night until they have proved their experience behind the wheel seem to be working. According to the California Highway Patrol, there has been a 7% drop in accidents involving youthful drivers, as well as a dip in fatalities.

MORE TEEN TRIALS A new study by the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation reveals that besides the obvious issues of school and grades, girls ages 11 to 17 struggle most often with such social concerns as knowing how to say yes to a relationship without having to say yes to sex, as well as dealing with peer pressure, drugs and alcohol. Such conflicting pressures come from not only boyfriends and girlfriends but also movies, television and advertising. According to the AAUW, educators and parents need to address this problem seriously.

MAKE NICE School violence is a concern of all parents, yet a major study released last week by the National Center for Children in Poverty confirms that there might be a possible solution to at least part of the problem. Students in Grades 2 through 6 who took part in a violence-resolution program–and learned to solve disagreements with words instead of fists–ended up being less hostile. This channeling of anger had one additional benefit. Those who took the classes often did better academically than those who did not.

–By Daniel S. Levy