In cities across America, including Chicago, Austin, and Minneapolis, police enforce city curfews for minors in order to keep youths safe from crime. In other cities such as Albuquerque, New Haven, and New York, this topic is being fiercely debated among officials.

Those in favor of curfews say that a restriction on the time children can spend on the streets would help reduce juvenile crime as well as keep young people from becoming victims of crime.

Mr. Welsh, a history teacher at Norwalk High said, “I believe it would be good if we had curfews in some places where it is more dangerous for children to be.  Even though this may not be fair, it is the best possible choice.”

Others argue that any curfew forced upon minors is unconstitutional.  They claim that it violates the Fourth Amendment and its protections against unreasonable search and seizure along with minors' First Amendment rights during curfew hours.

Billy Reyes (’11) says, “I stay out late on weekends but I don’t do anything wrong.”  He went on to say, “I don’t think many teens would follow a curfew.  Some parents let their children do whatever they want and it would be nearly impossible for the police to catch teenagers pass the curfew.”

With the varying enforcement and restrictions on curfews, it is difficult to determine the overall opinion of the country.

We live in a world in which celebrities are reported on and followed nonstop.  Anything and everything they do becomes news.

            Young people aspire to become celebrities and dream about being rich and famous.  With the endless coverage of celebrities we have today, it is important that they set a good example for children.

            It is the responsibility of celebrities to use the immense power and influence they have to benefit younger people.  I am not talking about donating to charities and feeding the poor, even though that is also great.  I am talking about conducting yourself in a respectable manner and staying out of trouble as well.

Unfortunately, this has been too hard to do for a large number of celebrities.  Most recently there was Tiger Woods after his car accident and “transgressions” (affairs), but he is only one on a long list of troubled celebrities.