Perrysburg High School Panelists will focus on teenager issues

2/16/2010

Common teen pranks, drug and alcohol issues, sexting, and the impact of social networking sites will be among the topics for discussion during a public event from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. Monday in the Perrysburg High auditorium.

Sponsored by the high school's Parents Helping Students and the Junior High Parents Organization, the panel discussion will focus on issues teenagers are facing today.

Along with such subjects as drug and alcohol issues, the panel will cover the effects of social networking on children and parenting and will offer advice on how parents can set boundaries and be involved with their children's communication.

Panelists will include Montana Miller, an assistant professor in the department of popular culture at Bowling Green State University, and Jeff Graham, the Rossford-Anthony Wayne DARE officer.

Ms. Miller specializes in youth culture and new media and is a leader in the emerging field of Internet research ethics. She presents her research at conferences nationwide, and her ongoing research projects examine teen-

agers' practices regarding drinking and driving, rituals on social networking sites, and high school rituals representation on YouTube.

Mr. Graham, who was Perrysburg's DARE officer for 10 years, is founder and president of Citizens of Perrysburg Safety Education.

Ellen Anderson, who has been working in the mental health field for more than 26 years and is a clinical counselor with Person to Person Counseling in Perrysburg, will discuss how parents can deal with these issues.