Post 2: Pgs. 81- 161

Summary:
I managed to leap over the next 80 pages! >:P These pages cover the chapters Declaration of Independence, Young Americans, Counting on the Children, The Invention of High School and Dangerous Adolescence. Nothing much varies between the style of the writting, sources are used to reflect upon teen experiences (like Russell Lash, for the quote below :3), and events are used to describe how teens acted during the time period ascending towards modern teens and how we/they (:D) are now. I'm finding constant similarities between teen experiences in the book between sources and throught real life experiences/sources. I can understand why the book is titled the RISE and FALL of the American teenager more clearly now that I've read further into the book. >:)

Quote:
"When I ran away from home, I never considered that was running away from school, too. School is very important to me, becuase I know I need it to reach my dream of working in the film industry.-- RUSSELL LASH in Yo! (Youth Outlook), (1994)" (Hine 138).

Reaction:
Out of all text you could find in 80 pages, I chose this quote, to actually give some sort of reaction to it (duh). Last year this girl ran away from home, and was missing for about 2 weeks I think. She missed every day of school between that period, and when she came back, she was stuck. We had learned so much in the time she was gone. For me, being absent one day throws me back. And I never thought about this but I don't think it's possible to run away from home AND Still go to school like nothing is wrong. o-o (Plus, they'll find you and send you back home but whatever XD). There's no way you can be a sucess in school if your life at home is messed up. There has to be a balance, and if you start screwing up your life now, there's no turning back, school and education is the key. Personally, I think it's stupid for kids to run away. Could their life at home be so horrible that they willingly want to be rid of their family? Jesus. It's a different thing if you want to run away and if you HAVE to run away. If your family isn't supporting you, avoid them, focus on your education instead. The real world doesn;t have room for kids who skip school and have a bad attitude. Do good in school (and at home too! :D) to do good/be sucessful in life. WHEW! That's some pretty deep stuff there. :D