Dear FRONTLINE

This program was so disturbing and informative that it must be seen. Please repeat it again, and soon.

This generation of teens grew up exposed to daily SOAP OPERAS with actors jumping into bed with each other, R-rated, sexually explicit movies in their living rooms from cable TV and the local video store, Jerry Springer et. al., internet porn, and news productions discussing the Presidents sexual activities in detail!

Even some of our most popular and honored television programs reflect an attitude of sexual promiscuity as the norm of the day, e.g. Seinfeld, Frasier, Mad About You.

Many of these kids also are the product of divorced homes. Their parents may be sexually involved in a variety of relationships, live-in or otherwise, and this is common knowledge to kids.

We've been feeding our kids sex, sex, sex for decades. And the result are the kids in this program who represent many kids in our country.

How do we fix it? Here are some ideas and I'm sure your audience has many more:

1 Only one TV per household and NO CABLE.

2 Get to know the parents of your children's friends.

3 One parent stays home

4 Make the effort to see that your child is where he/she says he is, and if he's not, FIND HIM, and have consequences.

5 Teach your children to contribute to society. Volunteer in hospitals, nursing homes, humane societies. Find something to do that makes the world a better place. Boredom is a substitute word for laziness.

Wanda Urban
Amity, Oregon

Dear FRONTLINE

As usual, the media once again has taken a very small issue and blown it out of proportion. What about the students I teach and have taught? They are wholesome, All-American teens who have traditional values and would never consider participating in the activities this program depicted.

I have always respected PBS and the programs you present, but I am totally astonished that a station with such high values would so misrepresent an entire community. You should be ashamed. Sure, there probably were students who did these things, but to mark an entire community for the actions of a few is immature, unprofessional, and explotive.

My students are deeply hurt and offended by your inability to represent them as a whole. You owe our community an apology. Our kids deserve to be able to leave this community, for college, with pride. Your misrepresentation of our teens has only harmed them. Why don't you address the problem, not the symptoms. It is typical of our media to report, but never to cure through the reporting. Hopefully you can repair the damage you have done to your network through the airing of this program. You should be ashamed.

Teacher

Rockdale Co. High School

Conyers, Georgia

Dear FRONTLINE

As a pastor, I was interested to hear that this tragedy happened to these young people in spite of the fact that the churches in and around Conyers were full and active.

How did these kids "fall through the cracks"? I was grieved that several of the kids frequented the rock concert given a church and yet got into trouble. Maybe the anwer is going back to simplicty and basics.

If parents are interested in learning more about why their children get into trouble, there are many resources. The best I have found is the basic seminar sponsored by Institute in Basic Life Principles. It worked for me. They can be reached at iblp.org.

Your program has caused me to be more sensitive to the plight of America's youth

ben hollingsworth
pineville, LA 71360

Dear FRONTLINE

As a veteran of almost 30 years of working with teens and their families, I watched your program with interest. There was a time when I was very naive about such devasating moral issues; I couldn't believe things like that could go on with kids from "good, moral, church-going homes." After several eye-opening experiences, I broke my rose colored glasses and began to see how serious the problem was, especially in these tumultuous '90s.

We now have an entire generation of baby-boomer parents who think that their needs are more important than the needs of their children, and they are doing everything they can to meet their own needs by working themselves to death, while trying to recreate to the extreme. Their teen-aged children have little concept of what family should be like; such as dinner together with a "mom" and a "dad" and positive interaction with parents and siblings. And how about grandparents who care and are available?

Since millions of middle and high school students are from broken homes and have a wretched lack of belongingness in their lives, why should we be surprised that they often will do anything to fit in and gain acceptance from a group of peers.

Girls are especially affected by this with our culture's emphasis on beauty. So the part of the Rockdale County youth culture you exposed does not ssurprise me; I was surprised you gave an objective perpsective on the role of the evangelical church in the lives of the youth culture in Conyers. My lifetime of experience has proven to me personally and by watching the lives of thousands of students that only when change occurs in a person's spiritual foundation will they be strong enough to stand in the face of severe moral temptation. Thanks for the opportunity to comment. Keep up the objective reporting.

Michael Holt
Asheville, NC

Dear FRONTLINE

Your program was not shocking to me. I teach high school in an upper middle class community and hear my students stories. I do feel that the majority of teenagers are "good" and the ones who are doing things to harm their bodies deep down desire to be "good".

I teach Family and Consumer Sciences so many of the topics discussed in your film are part of our classroom curriculum. Building stronger families, communication, community involvement, sex education and parenting just to name a few. The shocking and sad message I get repeatedly from my students is that yes, they do want their parents to be more involved in their lives. Whether they say it outloud or not which they probably will not. So parents take note, your children do need boundries, they want them! They want to know what's acceptable behavior and what's not. Help them out--be there for them! In my Parenting class I have the students do an exercise. Students write an explanation of how they will raise their own children differently from the way they were raised. The most common answer is ALWAYS--spend more time with my children! Like most teachers, I try my hardest to be a positive role model and be someone my students can talk to but I only see them for an hour and a half every other day. Parents have a much greater opportunity to influence their children than their teachers do--help us!

yy

Norman, Oklahoma

Dear FRONTLINE

As angry and hurt as I am over the behaviors of parents and children in Rockdale County shown on the show, I'm angrier about the self-righteousness exhibited by many of those who've responded here.

Rockdale is a conservative Christian community whose heroes are men like Rev. James Dobson, William Bennett, and Pat Robertson. I think we need to reflect on that before getting on our high horse to make demands of everyone else.

Conservatives demand that every pregnancy be carried to term, then tell these parents they're on their own. Condemning the parents you've thus far ignored won't change anything. Demanding censorship or "prayer in schools" hasn't worked.

Rockdale County represents a complete failure by social conservatives and their policies. Parenting is hard, and parents need help with it. When parents fail society must step in, paying for the ears that will keep kids and parents sane.

If your reaction to this report is to condemn the parents and "the culture" you're part of the problem. It does take a village, to provide emotional support for the hardest jobs in society, which are parenting and growing up. If the money spent on these sterile homes, cars and toys had gone into schools, after-care and park programs, is there any doubt the outcome would be different?

Dana Blankenhorn
Atlanta, GA

Dear FRONTLINE

What is most surprising to me after viewing the "Lost Children" installment, was the fact that so many seem shocked at the behavior of the teens. These kids are the living breathing embodiment of what they have seen and heard since they were small children.

Their behaviors are the result of parents who turn them over to a consumer culture that cares little about the soul or the community and values most highly the right of the individual to pursue his own personal pleasures.

When children see their parents abandon them in order to pursue their "dreams" of a more affluent lifestyle, personal or romantic fufillment, and any number of other supposedly viable reasons, what can we expect of them?

The American dream of instant gratification is an utter lie and the children in places like Rockdale county are the price of buying into what is more accurately a nightmare.

No amount of government involvement or citizen outrage will cure what is essentially a symptom of a larger malaise. Answers lie in ugly words like discipline, self denial, and sacrifice.

Steven Blondeau
Decatur, GA

Dear FRONTLINE

As disheartening as it is to witness such a profound lack of compassion and respect among members of a group who should be enjoying their youth, I must admit that these young people are model citizens from the perspective of the free market.

They consume plenty of cigarettes and alcohol, own or at least use several television sets, wear popular new clothes and shoes, and do a lot of driving-- at least the ones who have licenses. Most of all, they display an utter incapacity to comprehend, even on a superficial level, how they are manipulated and even why they manipulate each other. Although they will be well versed in taking advantage of their peers as they progress through adulthood, they will be ill equipped to challenge or change any of the societal or economic forces that helped land them in such a vacuous adolescence: the forty or longer hour work week, advertising and target marketing directed at teenagers, and the dull suburban landscape that surrounds them to name a few.

In other words, they will fulfill their role as consumers, making periodic trouble for themselves, but no trouble for the institutions, public and private, that profit handsomely from their urges, habits, and attitudes.

Ted Sheridan
New York, NY

Dear FRONTLINE

Thanks for the honest, straightforward report on the situation in Rockdale County. You handled a difficult and tragic subject in a careful, nonsensationalized way. Well done. The show made a deep impact on me and I plan to show the video and transcript to others.

As an Christian pastor, I am deeply grieved at the lack of impact which the church of Jesus Christ is having on our culture. Perhaps those of us who genuinely trust Jesus Christ and believe the Bible have been too seduced by power politics and too busy demanding our rights to express the love and hope that we have found in Him. Don't blame the schools, the government or the media without placing the lion's share of the responsibility on the churches. My prayer is that God will grant those of us who profess to know Him true repentance that will lead to a more Christ-like love not only for the lost children but also for the lost adults of every county in our land.

Tom Ascol
Cape Coral, Florida

Dear FRONTLINE

No one said anything good about this situation? Or, are you suppressing it?

My high school years were pretty disappointing with no sex. Sure, the Conyers kids were really wild, but where was the middle ground: some wild sex protected of course, but still do well in school.

I worked hard as a student and did well, but couldn't get laid. Wish I'd known the Conyers kids, perhaps there was a fringe group that would have been just right for me to get involved in.

pete bray
bridgeton, mo

Dear FRONTLINE

I found your report to be informative, but also frightening. Although my children are still elementary school age, I know from talking with parents of middle and high school students that the behavior described in your report IS happening right here.

I found it to be so sad that those parents you interviewed felt their children would do whatever they want no matter what the parent said. Where are the parents? How can these kids have these parties in their homes if parents are there? Why do they not know where their children are and if a parent is home at the party site?

Who is renting motel rooms to children as young as 12 and 13 years old? I, like others whose comments I have been reading, was amazed at the young people chain smoking and talking about drinking as if it was a right. Tell me a parent doesn't know a kid has been smoking and/or drinking. Even if they do it somewhere else, they can smell it. My last thought was that the report only mentioned one teen who had been involved in sports and I thought she seemed to be the only one who actually seemed remorseful and regretful. I realize extra curricular activities are not the answer to all problems, but these kids complained of nothing to do? I agree that Christian rock concerts may not be the answer, but there are alot of other positive activities kids can be involved in. I'm afraid for my children and our nation if people don't think we can stop this craziness.

wendy horn
indianapolis, in

Dear FRONTLINE

As the parent of a 5 year old and an 18 month old sons and expecting my third baby in January, I was deeply saddened and frightened by the teens portrayed last night.

My husband and I strive to be supportive and encouraging to our children and we try to teach them self-respect. Our fear is that although we will always be there for them they will get caught up in their "friends" lives and choose to do the wrong thing regardless of what we teach.

We attend church at least once a week and listen mostly to Contemporary Christian Music in the hopes that they will develop a great love for Jesus and the Lord and look for guidance through youth groups and us, their parents.

When parents choose to procreate they give up the right to always be looking for what's best for them and they now have to put their children first, forever. One last comment, as far as those govt. issued condoms, which I'm sure were paid for by taxpayers like myself who had no say in their distribution, I have read that the point of them is to avoid STD's. Well, it looks to me as though the plan is NOT working, not only are they telling kids it's ok to have pre-marital sex but their getting and spreading diseases anyway. Way to go guys!!!

Jennifer McLellan
manchester, nh

Dear FRONTLINE

I am excited to see you take on this subject. We, as a society, have torn apart the family structure and seem unaware of the consequences of our actions. The close family ties that I had as a child seem to have disappeared from mainstream America.

I would appreciate if you would continue to focus on this issue and the future of our nation. Your involvement as Public Broadcasting is essential in this role and I personally thank you for your work.

Steve Dinning
Norfolk, Virginia

Dear FRONTLINE

I can remember in the '80's being told of a cousin of mineupper middle class pretty white blond girl who lives in the Atlanta area and who got in trouble for participating in teen orgies. This was going on even back then.

So I watched the show, and it was shocking. The one underlying similarity between all of the kids seemed to be no RELATIONSHIP with the parents.

It needs to start while they're very young. My youngest daughter 2 in Dec. is NOT in daycare but with me 24/7. She is quite headstrong already and wants to do her own thing, and I constantly think of her in her teen years. I'm right now being very strict with her, and not giving in to her tantrums. I tell her I set the limits BECAUSE I love her. ANYBODY can give up! When she's 13, I'll still be setting limits.

We expect our kids at the age of thirteen with their adult bodies and mind of a child to "Just say No" but they haven't been told "No" in their own lives. What kind of example is that?

Another thing about these kids is they kept saying they had nothing else to do. Nobody seemed to have a job. Nobody needed one. Everything was provided for them. They didn't have to work after school when most were having sex, to provide for themselves their own spending money.

I would have been very interested to see an interview with the parents of the virgin girls, to see what they have done differently with their children.

My heart goes out to all these kids. May God bless them and keep them safe if no one else will.

This was an OUTSTANDING show and well done. I'm ready to hand out the EMMY. I sincerely hope that you will do an update.

Hebron, KY

Dear FRONTLINE

This does not surprise me when I hear parents who should know better justify the sexual transgressions of their children with the comment, "they're all doing it". With this attitude, what would one expect them to be doing!

Danbury, CT