Kids are Great

       As an educator that works with adolescents all of the time, I never like it when I hear other people saying negative things about teenagers--as if every single teenager is a drunk and a drug user and out all night causing havoc (with the possible exception of the children of the people who make these statements).  Well I'm here to tell you that it's not true.  Kids are great.

       And I'm not the only person who thinks so; just look at the stats:

• In 2015, 90.7% of high schools students didn't smoke (source)
• In 2011 this number was 84.2%
• In 1996 this number was 78% (source)
• In 2013, 65% of high schools students never drank alcohol
• 79% of high schools students didn't binge drink alcohol (source)
• In 2014 among 12th graders:
• 96.4% didn't use Ecstacy
• 96.7% didn't use OxyContin
• 97.4% didn't use Cocaine
• 98.1% didn't use Inhalants (source)
• In 2014, 97% of teenagers were not arrested for any crime (source)

       These are the stats you never hear about on the TV news and you never read in the newspaper.  Most teenagers are good kids.  They follow the rules, they don't get into trouble, they make us proud. And its not like they don't have stress in their lives...school, relationships, chores, family life.  Kids are great.  And they can really party!  (just kidding)  

       We've got great kids.  And we should say so every once in while.