Getting Better All the Time.

• Author: Lynch, Michael W.
• Position: Child welfare - Brief Article

"Ask any teen: growing up today feels tougher than ever," Hillary Rodham Clinton wrote recently in Newsweek, justifying her May White House Conference on Teenag-ers. "While the cases may be extreme, the tragedies at Columbine High School...and just recently at the National Zoo, are chilling reminders of the stress, alienation and violence that can overwhelm a troubled teen."

It's difficult to know how today's teens could compare their troubles to those of past generations, but many statistical indicators show that the lives of children in general, and teens in particular, are actually improving.

"Children are living healthier and safer lives than ever before," concludes Kimberly M. Thompson...