I read “When is a newspaper not a newspaper?” [Sept. 19 Cover]. All the craft ideas are very creative, and it’s a way to get kids recycling. The only thing I have against it is, where are you going to find all these things, like a small enough canvas to make the memo board look cute and Mod Podge? How are kids supposed to pay for all these things? Also, how is the paper going to stay on the bracelet without it getting soggy from the glue? As for the candleholders, you know most kids aren’t allowed to use fire, so why would they have candles? And most kids don’t have babies in the house either, so where would they get baby-food jars? Other than that, very creative.
— Alicia, 11
KidNews note: We want to address your concerns, Alicia, so you and other kids can make these fun crafts. We found all the craft supplies easily and inexpensively at craft and art-supply stores; the glue and Mod Podge won’t make things soggy if you let them dry thoroughly; and the candleholders make great gifts and can be made using other glass containers (though anyone you know who has a baby, including neighbors and relatives, would probably be glad to save jars for you).
So noted
I read your story “Make a note of it!” [Sept. 19 Tough News]. I think when you take notes, you should have the main idea first and all the information about that main idea after it. You should always do notes on notecards. Every new main idea gets its own notecard. Never make notes in complete sentences. Never copy big words that you don’t know in your notes, and when you come upon big words and you want them in your notes, go to a thesaurus and find a similar word like it. You guys were right when you said it doesn’t have to be neat, because you’re going to write a report from the notes anyway. Finally, you use notes so you’re not forced to copy straight from a book or what a teacher says.
— Scott H., 11
Your article “Make a note of it” was very informative. I don’t normally read the Chicago Tribune, but I’m glad I read this issue.
I also think it’s true that many students don’t pay attention during their classes. If all students just took notes, then they wouldn’t have to worry about failing all of their tests. I don’t fail tests, but I never get all A’s on my tests.
— Katelyn A.
Don’t cave, create
This is in response to Maura L. [Sept. 26 Backtalk]. Maura, you said that if Sharon X. doesn’t like the way people judge on appearances, she should rebel and do crazy things with her hair and style. I think rebelling like that is just another way of caving to the pressure of conformity. You don’t want to conform, so you do something to SHOW everyone you’re not conforming. If you’re really free of conformity, you will look inside yourself and decide how YOU want to dress and how YOU want to look. That might be crazy, or it might be preppy or retro or whatever. The point is, it’s what YOU like.
— Danielle M., 14
TV terror
I thought the Nike ad where that runner is trying to get away from the maniac was funny, until I read your words “We don’t think making sport of a woman running for her life is that funny” [Sept. 26 Backtalk]. Now I don’t know what to think. Your words made sense, but I laughed at the ad. Maybe you’re being too sensitive. If that ad is offensive, aren’t all the movies it’s making fun of offensive too? Like all the “Friday the 13th” movies? At least in the ad, the woman gets away, which is way better than what happens to the girls in those movies!
— Mia C., 12
Try, try again
I’ve never won one of your contests, and I’ve entered everything! I think I’ve always gotten the answers right too! I thought I might have a chance with your Green Seen contest, but I didn’t win. I’m about to give up!
— Matthew T., 11
KidNews note: We’re sorry, Matthew, that must be disappointing! But if you give up, you’ll have absolutely NO shot of winning. At least by entering you increase your chances! For what it’s worth: When we do random drawings, you simply have to go with the luck of the draw. But sometimes when we’ve asked readers to write essays or give reasons they should win a certain prize, our hearts have gone out to kids who have written “I never win prizes like this . . . ” (It helps if they strike the right note: not too whiny, just a bit heart-tugging.) Keep trying!
Home school rules
In “Loser behavior” [Sept. 5 Backtalk], that person was mean with home-schooling, but it isn’t always bad. I’m home-schooled, and I love it! For example, I get to learn history, astronomy and Greek mythology. I get my work done faster than at school, so I have more time to myself. I get to move at my own pace too. That guy just is weird. I don’t want readers to get the wrong impression about home-schooling.
— Dan Z.
Band together
I don’t believe that it’s correct to say that “hard-core bands” (that is a bad name — bands such as Limp Bizkit and Korn are known as alternative rock bands) don’t have to do as much work as pop singers. Sure, pop singers can dance and sing, but most of them can’t really play any musical instruments. From my experience as a guitar player, it is very difficult to stand with a 5-pound guitar on your shoulder and sing. For instance, take one of the greatest bands in history, Metallica. They have three-hour concerts with a five- to 10-minute intermission in the middle, which includes more than 20 mostly five- to nine-minute songs. They sweat like crazy! How many songs were at the last ‘N Sync concert, though, and how much did they sweat? I don’t know, but I do know the concert lasted only two hours.
I really don’t have any problems with pop songs just as long as they stay on B96 and don’t try to cross over to Q101 and as long as people don’t start saying alternative rockers don’t work as hard as pop singers. Both kinds of singers have to work equally hard to make sure they bring quality music to their fans.
Also, I don’t see what is wrong with swears in songs. Everyone in America is supposed to have the right to the 1st Amendment.
— Jack
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