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My Friend's Mother Helps Her Cheat DR. WALLACE: We have homework four days a week in world history. I do all my homework by myself, but my best friend's mother helps her with hers. I average a B on my homework, but my friend averages an A. I don't believe this is fair. Both of us are …Read more. Cousins Don't Normally Date Each Other DR. WALLACE: The End of Semester Fling is the biggest dance party and school-sponsored event at our school. Even the teachers and administrators show up and have fun. Most students attend the Fling as couples, but those not dating can show up as a …Read more. I Feel Abandoned and Alone DR. WALLACE: I'm 17 and about as sad and depressed as a teen can be. My boyfriend left me for another girl. I loved Jeremy more than any human on earth. He was my life. I went out of town during the Christmas break. My parents and I spent the …Read more. Please Tell Me How to be Happy DR. WALLACE: I'm 14 and down on myself. I feel like all the girls at my school are prettier and smarter than I am. I know they have more money to spend than I do, and they always wear nicer clothes than I have. When it comes to dating, I don't think …Read more.
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Teens Save for College

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TEENS: A recent survey by TD AMERITRADE found that teens are putting money away for college and this is their top savings goal. The results of the survey show that 62 percent of teens between the ages of 14 and 19 save money for higher education. That's a much higher rate than the 40 percent of parents who said they saved for college when they were teens.

The present economic climate has affected the way teens acquire money. Fewer than 50 percent of today's teens said they get their money from part-time jobs, while 77 percent of their parents said employment was their source of money as teens. The teens of today receive the bulk of their money from parents or gifts from certain occasions as birthdays, graduations and holidays.

These results of the survey were a surprise to educators. "It's a pleasant surprise that we're seeing young people paying that much attention to the importance of this issue," said Joseph Peri, CEO of the nonprofit Council for Economic Education. "Part of teaching the importance of investing is showing that the best investment a young person can make is an investment in themselves."

Working with teens my entire life has taught me never to underestimate their intelligence and their strong desire to succeed.

PARTY WOULD BE MORE FUN WITHOUT CHAPERONES

DR.

WALLACE: I'm 16 and a pretty responsible teen. My best friend is throwing a surprise birthday party for her boyfriend, who will be 18. Of course, I'm invited and I'm dying to attend. Everything was great until my parents found out that my girlfriend's mother was talked into not being there. My best friend convinced her mom that the party would be more fun without a chaperone.

Now my parents are not going to let me go. This really angers me. The party will just be a group of teens having a lot of fun without drugs, alcohol or sex. You always say that parents should trust their children until that trust is broken. I have never violated the trust my parents have placed in me. Shouldn't that be sufficient for allowing me to attend this party? — Kelly, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

KELLY: I'm sure your parents do trust you. They might have concerns about some of the other party-goers. Without supervision, get-togethers can rapidly get out of control. A party chaperone is like the police officer walking the beat. His purpose is to be seen. This presence stops most problems before they begin.

Your parents are making the right decision.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at rwallace@galesburg.net. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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