Just when I had decided that there was no hope for the world, no need to read or listen to anything about the future, I learned about Booker T. Washington Middle School in six intriguing installments of 13. Thank you, St. Petersburg Times, for restoring my faith by introducing me to this interesting school, its exceptional staff and precious 13-year-old pupils.
Published May 31, 2003
Re: 13.
>-- Dorothy Wylie, New Port Richey
Just too much
The six-part series on the emotional swirl buffeting Booker T. Washington's seventh-graders was very well written, though a case of major overkill that could have been covered in one or two articles.
A question of interest left unanswered was how did race relations fit in? Did the blight of political correctness keep your reporters from covering this subject if there was a problem?
-- Jack Grubel, South Pasadena
Devoted to this series
Re: 13.
I have never enjoyed reading the newspaper so much until I began reading the 13 series. I don't get much time to read the paper in the day, but I was so devoted to this series, I stayed up until 6 a.m. once just to hear what unfortunately happened to the Pink Dinos. I have to say that it made me miss the times when I was younger, but at the same time made me appreciate the young times I experience now at the precious age of . . . 19.
Reading the last sentence of the series just made me feel the unfortunate reality of the transformation of child to adolescent. I thought I heard my Mr. Potato Head beckoning to me for a second. Thank you for keeping me interested. Just so you know, I'm not usually an avid reader, but I have a feeling that is going to change.
One question, though. Didn't shadowing the kids interfere with their get-togethers? Did they feel weird about it or anything?
-- Lukasz Sokolewicz, Largo
Trying to ruin children's morals
Re: Six-part series 13: Life at the edge of everything.
My family, along with countless others, is astounded, disgusted and outraged at your six-part series on 13-year-old children. We demand that you apologize to the public.
Apparently you do not have sufficient sex crimes; you prey on 13-year-old children, blatantly attempting to tear down their morals and defy, harass and ridicule parents who are desperately trying to safeguard and shield their children from our current immoral society that is saturated with sex, porn, vulgar trash, etc., promoted by TV, drugs, games, music, movies and the reckless news media - your paper.
I am ashamed of you and your paper deliberately trying to ruin the morals of innocent children.
-- G.B. Middlekauff, Palm Harbor
Outstanding reporting and kids
Re: 13.
What an outstanding piece of entertaining reporting.
The writing team captured the essence of the age of innocence with a humorous and sympathetic "adult" understanding of what a 13-year-old's perspective of life is. What an outstanding group of kids to portray. In their hands our future will be secure.
One of the surprises for me was the excellence of "parenting" depicted in the story. In this age of dual-income families, "electronic baby sitters" and the sexual pressures of MTV and VH1, these parents seem to be observantly paying attention to their emerging teenagers' world. They are maintaining discipline, setting high expectations and very diplomatically trying to keep the doors of dialogue open.
The teachers are incredible! Give them a raise!
-- Tom Paslay, Homosassa
A silly series
Re: 13.
As a mother of three teens, I cannot imagine what your three reporters did to deserve having the assignment of shadowing several 13-year-olds around for a year! I'm sure there were some 13-year-old readers out there who enjoyed your series, but us non-tween folks were frustrated searching through the daily newspaper for the Floridan section, which became the 13 section for six days.
Please don't change the newspaper section titles during a story series! Was nearly a whole week of adults deciphering and offering a running commentary on what a group of 13-year-olds were saying and doing really necessary? I wonder how you found these particular kids to interview, as they are nothing like how my own teens were at that age (thank God!). That was an awful lot of space and ink you used for this silly series of stories.
I guess we should all be thankful that the bay area "news" has become so dull, after all the terrorism, war and real news.
-- Donna Dixon, Holiday
Interesting, disturbing and real
Re: 13.
I wanted to compliment you on such a well written, truthful article. I have not read the entire series yet but have kept all of them and read what I can of them whenever I get the chance. I find them very interesting and disturbing, and also very real, because I "graduated" from Booker T. Washington two years ago. I have just finished with my sophomore year at Blake High School for the Arts, but I have not forgotten B.T.W (what students called it the most while I was there) or my three years there.
Actually, maybe I should say I have. Reading your articles has reminded me of what it was like and how happy I am now, and even more it has reminded me of a past I should not have tried to bury so deeply. Life at 13 is extreme turmoil, as you have witnessed, and it definitely was for me. But I also loved it and I still visit B.T.W. whenever I can to see a few teachers I miss who got me through it.
You have written a truly great series which chronicles life at 13 the way it really is. You have opened a door onto a world few ever see or remember, and you have given it due justice, explanation, sympathy and beauty. Thank you for reminding me of what it was like - I have a 13-year-old brother - and for shedding light on young teenagers' lives.
-- Sarah Elek, Temple Terrace
Mixed reviews
I casually passed one of the 13 sections to my 10-year-old daughter to read. (You have to be casual to suggest anything to a 10-year-old.) She read it so intensely her fingers unconsciously started stripping the newspaper. Deep frown.
Later I asked, casually, what she thought. I wanted to know if she found it condescending to the kids. I thought the stories absolutely gripped, but some of the commentary paragraphs made the kids into goofballs.
But I didn't ask casually enough. What did she think of it? The kid who hardly drew a breath while reading it? Her answer: "Nothing, really."
-- Michael Hoad, Tampa
Tallahassee disconnection
Re: A give-up budget, May 29.
The editorial is bittersweet and bitter because you quote Florida senators whose statements confirm the general session and the special session were a lousy investment for Florida taxpayers. This was compounded by open admissions that they simply didn't do their jobs in areas of critical statewide interest such as education and health care.
It is quite astounding to read admissions such as this from several decent elected officials in the Senate yet experience deafening silence from the House members. How is it possible for both bodies to be dominated by the same party and still have such disconnected views on public policies? Leadership of the respective bodies apparently obtained what they wanted, but Florida will drift into the next budget year wounded and wanting.
-- James R. Gillespie, St. Petersburg
Saving problems for the future
Re: Florida legislative session.
Little work was done for Floridians. The most recent legislative session has been a slap in the face to the citizens of Florida and House District 51. This so-called budget is a crime on the future of our state. Rather than work in a responsible, productive manner, the Republican leadership of House Speaker Johnnie Byrd has created a budget that only Herbert Hoover could be proud of.
Mr. Byrd has said that the legislators should be proud of themselves because they saved Florida. All they saved was the problems for future generations to solve. I am a former candidate for the Florida House, and it has been difficult to see the lack of leadership from our representatives. I thank God for representatives like Charlie Justice and Frank Peterman who have fought hard for education, senior issues and the needs of hard-working Florida families. They are the true leaders in Tallahassee and we should thank them.
-- Richard N. Langton, Seminole
Life jackets: the missing lesson
Re: Lessons on the water, photo, May 30.
I'm always happy to see young people engaged in supervised boating activities. But while learning about marine ecosystems, students should be taught about safe boating practices. I notice in the photo the student's life jackets are neatly stowed in the canoe or used as knee pads and not being worn where they would be useful in case of a sudden capsize.
My experience of serving 28 years with the U.S. Coast Guard and removing several drowning victims from the water proves to me that a personal flotation device (a life jacket) should be worn at all times when engaging in water sports.
-- W. Larry Herring, Spring Hill
Bob Hope brought many memories
Bob Hope turned 100 years old Thursday. In my opinion, there are few who have given more to the United States, and to its veterans, than the British-born Bob Hope. As far as I'm concerned, it's "Thanks for the memories." More than one.
Bob brought his Christmas show to Korat, Thailand, in 1967, among other places. And I was there. Thanks, Bob.
And a couple of years later, Bob brought his show to DaNang, Vietnam, and I was there. Thanks, Bob.
But what many persons do not know, is that Bob brought his show to Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic, in August of 1965. And I was there. We were part of the XVIII Airborne Corps and 82nd Airborne Division sent to quell a political uprising there. And Bob brought his "Christmas Show" there in August, if I remember correctly. There weren't a lot of us there, but Bob was there. I, for one, cannot thank Bob Hope enough for what he has done for America's military.
Happy birthday, Bob. I hope you live forever. You'll forever be in my memory.
-- W.L. "Bill" Pickett, Crystal River
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