electronic images are actually making teens more inclined to take part in similar activities, but studies do show that teens who consistently watch the "tube" do not make connect-ions to parents and mentors. Devotion to the television, deprives teens of the ability to learn values and morals from their families.

With regard to the media, Mrs. Clinton added that as parents, "We also recognize it is more difficult to keep track of what teens are watching and learning on TV or on their home computer... Presently, we have so many opportunities for children to see things without any parental supervision, or even without an older brother or sister saying, that's stupid, or how dumb that is, trying to interject some reality into the world that the media conveys to our kids." Mrs. Clinton pointed out that television often obscures reality, thus giving teens a false sense of truth in what is being watched.

Kids still need parents, and in fact, recent information indicates that parents are still the most important adults in a teenager's life, and that three out of four teenagers still turn to their parents in times of trouble. And, believe it or not, while parents list the threat that their teen will become involved in drugs or alcohol as their top concern, teens, in turn, list education and "not having enough time with their parents" as their top concern.

Mrs. Clinton commented, "I believe one of the biggest casualties of modern life has been family time, especially time during meals, when parents and children can check out their busy schedules and check in with each other." Actually Mrs. Clinton's statement is supported by a poll commissioned by The Council of Economic Advisors that said teens that eat dinner with their parents almost daily, are less likely to get involved with smoking drinking, drug use, violence, sexual activity, and have suicidal thoughts. The report also noted that adults say that they spend substantial time during the day with their children, or that they make emotional connections with their teens. In reality, their words do not follow through to the truth. Mrs. Clinton remarked that this kind of talk results from our "non-stop talky culture" in which we may do a lot of talking, but seldom are we connecting because we are not listening.

Danny DeVito, who with his wife Rhea Perlman, helped found the Colonnades Theater Lab and is also involved in the Children's Action Network, volunteered that he makes sure that his kids know that he is around, poking his head inside their rooms, saying, "I'm here if you need me." He admitted that his kids REALLY like to be heard. They frequently "perform" run-on sentences in an unfaltering high pitched voice to insure they are not interrupted.