Give them shelter: Neighbors are helping frightened children in California’s San Fernando Valley because a molester is on the loose. The molester has attacked 22 people, mainly kids, in the past nine months. Police say the molester usually walks up and talks to a child, sometimes asking for the time, then grabs the child’s crotch and runs away. Detectives think the man stalks students who walk to school alone. Homeowners in the valley have placed green triangles in their windows to let kids know they can go there if they need refuge. (Police run a background check on the homeowners first.) “It’s scary out there,” says Victoria Melendez, who has a daughter in grade school. “But at least the kids have somewhere safe to go if they have to.”
Hope it’s history: Remember Bloomingdale High School in Michigan, which fought to keep a picture of Jesus in its hallway? A student wanted it removed, saying it violated the separation of church and state; the school – and lots of students – wanted it to stay. Well, the school and the student, Eric Pensinger (who has graduated), may have found a compromise. Under a settlement reached last week (and man, we hope this settles it!), the school will keep the picture of Jesus, but surround it with pictures of other historical figures, like Abraham Lincoln and the Rev. Martin Luther King. The settlement has to be approved by a judge. But Pensinger, who got harassed by other students and community residents plenty during his court fight, hopes that’s the end of it. “This is better than nothing,” he said. “If somebody wants to (take up the case later), that’s fine. But I wouldn’t wish it on anybody.”
Are 2 Scouts out? The Boy Scouts are still battling in court to keep two California twins out. The two boys are handling things fine – they’re attending the court hearings as a step toward earning their law merit badges. The boys, Mike and William Randall, 12, were kicked out of the Cub Scouts in 1991 for refusing to promise their “duty to God” in the Scout pledge. But a judge made the Scouts let them back in, saying state laws prohibit discrimination for religious beliefs. And now the Scouts are appealing that decision. As the arguments dragged on in court last week in Santa Ana, the twins found the whole thing a little tedious. “Boring, boring, boring,” Mike said. “It took too long.” No decision has been made, but we’ll let you know if the boys get to stay or get booted.
Deadly plans: A sad story came from the Washington Post earlier this month: Children in D.C. are planning their own funerals. It’s not a game they play, thinking about when they’re really old – the kids make the plans as if they’ll die tomorrow. In the past five years, 224 kids under 18 have been killed in D.C. either as targets of shootings or as bystanders. So instead of planning their lives, some kids have made plans for their deaths. Howard Reed, 15, described the funeral he wants: “I don’t want my hands like this,” he said, folding them across his chest. “I want to be buried with peace signs. . . . I want to wear sweats and tennis shoes.” Jessica Bradford, 11, told the Post: “My prom dress is going to be the prettiest dress of all. When I die, I want to be dressy for my family.” Psychologist Douglas Marlowe said kids often become fascinated with death. But, he said, “Once they start planning their own funerals, they have given up.”
