SURVEY Teenagers give adults grades in evaluation

Overall, the results show adults have some work to do, in teens' eyes.
By KARA KRIDLER
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
Teens, it's your turn. The tables have been turned on adults, and now they're getting graded.
After years of receiving report cards, pupils around the country have evaluated adults, and the results were presented last month in the fifth annual Uhlich National Teen Report Card on Adults.
The report card, created by the Uhlich Children's Home of Chicago, is an annual report assessing the progress of adults on various topics.
This year's survey included responses from 1,000 young people ranging in ages from 12 to 19 who were selected randomly from all over the country.
The study was "fun because the focus was on adults," said Jasmine Keith, a teen who participated in discussions about the survey.
Work to be done
The grades show that adults have some work to do. The teens said the area that concerned them most is adults' ability to listen to and understand young people.
"Adults say one thing and do another, and that's confusing for young people," said Charles Kuy Kendoll, a teen from Chicago.
Adults also received low C's for their efforts at stopping young people from smoking and drinking, preventing the outbreak of war and protecting the environment.
The highest grade scored on the report card was a B for providing a quality education for young people. This category has received the highest grade for the past five years.
The purpose of the report card is to open the communication lines between teens and adults.
"The Uhlich report card shows us that teens are judging us just as much as we are judging them," said Linda Spears, a spokesperson for the Child Welfare League of America.
CWLA has helped to present a five-year analysis of the scores adults received.
They want to help
And young people want to help adults improve. "Teens of America are ready to talk. Are you willing to listen? It's that easy," Kendoll said.
Here are some of the teens' suggestions on how adults can improve their test scores next year.
UGive less information and listen more.
UApproach teens with an open mind and a positive outlook.
UMake teens earn things; don't just give things to them.
UGive teens reasons why they shouldn't drink.
UMake drug laws stricter. Make it harder to get drugs.
UPay attention. Be courageous. Build safe communities for teens.
UBe honest and open because kids can tell when adults believe one thing and act another way.
XA full copy of the Uhlich report card, including all grades, can be found at: http://www.uhlich.org/reportcard.