Curfews

Be Home By?
By Elma Gonzalez

The 10:00pm curfew has always been a nuisance for any high school student –the best parties and movies always start at 10:00pm; so why can’t they be out at that time? Well, because it is the city's way of protecting its youth.

In the 1990's curfews became a popular way to combat juvenile delinquency. But, have they helped? According to studies, curfews have had a small, positive effect on the reduction of crime among adolescents. But, what about those who are simply out for a party or movie? According to statistics, there is a higher chance of being caught in a car accident at night than during the day. Therefore, for them, it is not an issue of decreasing crime, but tragedies. Curfews have been a good way to battle both phenomena.

A week ago several SOH students were arrested for staying out past curfew. Most of these students however, were not out engaging in illegal activities,or even 'partying'; they were walking out of the movie theater after watching Twilight’s sequel: New Moon. "As we waited for my dad to come pick us up, we got hungry; so we decided to walk to Carl's Jr. That's where the cops arrested us," recalls a student.

Why would students choose to neglect the curfew? According to a survey administered to Mr. Thompson’s AP Econ class, 58% of the students know there is a curfew at 10:00pm, about 30% of the students know one exists but are unaware at what time it comes into effect, and approximately 13% did not know there was one at all. For those students who do not know there is a curfew, it is just a matter of informing them. But what can be done for those who simply choose to ignore it?

When asked, many of the students who were arrested said their parents had given them permission to be out at that hour. So, perhaps it is not a question of what can be done to the students, but to the parents. The Junior State of America club at school has decided to hold a discussion about this issue this Tuesday. They will have a guest speaker to answer any questions you may have, so show up and let your opinion be heard.