BROOKLYN, N.Y. /CitizenWire/ — What do teens think about cheating? How do youth approach depression or becoming vegetarian? How do traditional religious backgrounds influence young people's choices and character development? These questions and more are tackled by teens in the pages of KidSpirit's new print issue released today, the Best of KidSpirit Online.
The compilation features articles, poetry, and art created by teens and published since KidSpirit Magazine went to the Web. The content was selected by KidSpirit's all-youth Editorial Board from issues on Competition & Achievement, Rituals & Traditions, The Body in Balance, Finding Your Spirit in Art, and The Question of Meaning.
From this impressive body of work, 18 pieces have been further selected for a KidSpirit Award by the Editorial Board, honoring the most reflective, thought-provoking and creative work on the Web. An article by Peter Benson, President and CEO of Search Institute, was singled out for the KidSpirit PerSpectives Award, the only award given to an adult contributor. In the article, Benson urges youth to find their inner "spark" – an activity that inspires joy or passion-and shows their mentors how to nurture it.
The contributions from talented young people also make the Best of KidSpirit Online an exciting teaching tool. Because articles are written and edited by their peers, KidSpirit's content engages young readers by putting them into dialogue with one another. In addition, KidSpirit's themes invite reflection on big ideas from many points of view. As the youth-led Editorial Board remarks in its mission statement, "We want to help the young people of the world show their colors and share each other's cultures, art, beliefs, ethics and values. Our goal is to encourage varied perspectives and contribute to greater mutual understanding in our lives and our world."
The Best of KidSpirit Online provides educators and mentors with group discussion guides, as well as activities to help get students involved in talking about life's big questions. KidSpirit also invites teachers and youth workers to contact the magazine, in order to submit contributions by their own talented teens.
To find out more about KidSpirit and to order copies of the Best of KidSpirit Online, go to http://www.kidspiritonline.com and visit the KidSpirit Shop.
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