Partway Gay? For Some Teen Girls, Sexual Preference Is a Shifting Concept
The Washington Post
More teenage girls in the Washington area are sexually experimenting with both males and females. The trend is not just local: Social scientists (who estimate that 5 to 7 percent of young people are gay) say they have seen a growing number of girls professing a “heteroflexible outlook.” Jan. 4. www.washingtonpost.com, go to archives and search for headline; registration required.
Understanding Female Pedophilia
Palm Beach Post
When men commit sex crimes, the response is often horror but not surprise: They committed 96 percent of reported sex crimes in 1999. The little research that exists on female pedophiles is beginning to reveal patterns in the behavior of these lesser-known offenders. Jan. 10. www.palmbeachpost.com, go to archives and search for headline.
Shortage of Psychiatrists Leaves Big Treatment Gap
Rocky Mountain News
Research by the News reveals that only 200 child and adolescent psychiatrists are available to serve the needs of the 54,000 children under 11 years old in Colorado who have severe emotional disturbances. The finding reflects a national shortage: There are 7,000 child psychiatrists in the United States, 23,000 fewer than are needed. Jan. 5. www.rockymountainnews.com, go to archives and search for headline.
School Funding Still in Jeopardy
Education Week
Despite a late surge in the economy last year, most states will struggle again in 2004 to keep state expenses in line with income. That’s troublesome for education systems, which face tight budgets on top of the new costs of complying with the federal No Child Left Behind Act. www.edweek.org, go to archives and search for headline; registration required.
Unruly Students Facing Arrest, Not Detention
The New York Times
Adolescent misbehavior such as being loud or disruptive, which used to get kids sent to the principal’s office, is increasingly landing them in the juvenile justice system. School officials say they’re just trying to keep order, but critics believe the harsh reaction demonizes the children, many of whom suffer from behavior disorders. Jan. 4. www.nytimes.com, go to archives and search for headline; registration required.
