Welcome to the first edition of Teenagers in The Times for the 2019-2020 school year. This roundup of news and feature stories about young people that have recently appeared across sections of NYTimes.com publishes on the first Thursday of each month, from September until June.
For ideas about how to use Teenagers in The Times with your students, please see our lesson plan and special activity sheet, both of which can be used with this or any other edition.
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Civics, Politics, Economics and Business
A Summer Camp on the Border, Where the Border Crisis Feels Far Away
These teenagers, many the children of migrants, are growing up in the shadow of a national conversation about immigration. They feel the stereotypes. But at camp, “it’s way different.”
Urban-Farming Camps Have Kids Asking, Where’s the Healthy Food?
At summer programs in Harlem and the Bronx, children grow crops and talk about the limited sources of good nutrition in their neighborhoods.
At Least 10 Shot at Alabama High School Football Game, Police Say
One teenager was charged in connection with the shooting, which took place Friday night, officials said.
What Will Indefinite Detention Do to Migrant Kids?
“The evidence is clear: No detention center is safe and healthy for children,” states this Opinion essay.
Meet the Students Fueling Hong Kong’s Protests: ‘We May Die’
Antigovernment protests have raged all summer, aided by student activists. How will they be heard after they go back to school? Here’s what they told us.
With No Boys Born in Nearly 10 Years, a Polish Village Finds Fame in Its Missing Males
Over nearly a decade, all 12 children born in the farming hamlet of Miejsce Odrzanskie have been girls, an oddity that has drawn international attention.
An American Middle Schooler, Orphaned by Deportation
Fanny was in middle school when ICE came for her mother, leaving her to navigate the struggles of adolescence by herself.
Arkansas Woman Charged Over Holding Four Black Teenagers at Gunpoint
The boys were raising money for their football team. The woman, identified as Jerri Kelly, 46, is facing charges of aggravated assault and false imprisonment.
Man Attacks Boy Who Refused to Remove Hat for National Anthem, Officials Say
Curt Brockway was charged with a felony after grabbing the 13-year-old and slamming him to the ground, the authorities in Montana said.
Jeffrey Epstein Raped Me When I Was 15
“Now I’m suing his estate and accomplices,” writes the author of this Opinion essay.
She Was Arrested at 14. Then Her Photo Went to a Facial Recognition Database.
With little oversight, the N.Y.P.D. has been using powerful surveillance technology on photos of children and teenagers.
Regardless of a child’s age or challenges, parents can encourage sound homework routines for a successful start to the school year.
Dorm to Table: College Start-Ups Take Aim at Food Industry
College entrepreneurs who focus on food products face their own set of challenges, including waste and food safety regulations, experts say.
How Paying for College Is Changing Middle-Class Life
“When getting a degree is seen as a moral obligation, families will spend whatever it takes,” states this Opinion writer.
Want to Pay Off a Student’s Debt? At Morehouse, Donors Now Can
Morehouse unveiled a program last week in which the school will solicit donations that would go directly to paying off its students’ loans.
To Graduate, File a Fafsa, More High School Seniors Are Told
More states are requiring it, and students who complete the form are more likely to attend college — especially low-income pupils, says a group that promotes college education.
How to Cut College Dropout Rates
This Opinion essay writer argues, “Attention to personal needs like mentoring, flexible scheduling and public transportation vouchers can help students in public colleges graduate on time.”
How a State Plans to Turn Coal Country Into Coding Country
Driven by a tech-industry vision of rural economic revival, Wyoming is requiring all of its K-12 public schools to offer computer science.
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Science, Health, Technology and Sports
A Teenage NASCAR Driver Is Content to Go Slow for Now
Hailie Deegan, 18, has high hopes for her racing career, and the confidence that success will come in good time.
Cutting the Cord: What Parents and Teenagers Need to Know
In her Help Desk column, Judith Newman shares books on “adulting” — learning the skills we need to make it in the world, without Mom or Dad at the ready.
YouTube Said to Be Fined Up to $200 Million for Children’s Privacy Violations
The fine, from the Federal Trade Commission, could have significant repercussions for other social media platforms that are popular with children.
I Couldn’t Say ‘My Mother’ Without Crying
“Losing a family member at a young age has lasting impacts, well into adulthood. There’s no quick fix for childhood grief,” says this Opinion essay writer.
Back to School With Narrow Escapes and a Mother’s Love
After a summer in rehab, using a zombie escape room as a test for a college student’s readiness to launch.
Fortnite Fortunes and Freakouts: Parents Grapple With an Obsession
Fortnite, the widely popular video game, can lead to big financial wins for teenagers. But Times readers say its use also has parents struggling over when to say enough.
“For youngsters these days, an hour of free play is like a drop of water in the desert. Of course they’re miserable,” this Opinion essay writer contends.
Surf therapy programs often focus on children with autism or anxiety, or groups like veterans or cancer survivors.
Give Your Teenager a Credit Card? Some Financial Experts Say Yes
Parents should monitor spending and explain how to pay the bill on time. A financial planner says teenagers should get a card. “We live in a credit-driven society.”
Surgeon General Warns Pregnant Women and Teenagers Not to Smoke or Vape Marijuana
Dr. Jerome Adams, the surgeon general, said they may be unaware that modern crops pose greater health risks because of their potency.
Dozens of Young People Hospitalized for Breathing and Lung Problems After Vaping
Patients, mostly teenagers, suffered severe respiratory problems in recent weeks, possibly from vaping marijuana, illicit drugs or nicotine.
‘Juul-alikes’ Are Filling Shelves With Sweet, Teen-Friendly Nicotine Flavors
Juul, worried about further damage to its reputation as it tries to remake its public image, has filed lawsuits and a complaint with the International Trade Commission.
Books to Ease the Transition to Middle School
In Pablo Cartaya’s ‘Each Tiny Spark,’ Carolyn Mackler’s ‘Not if I Can Help It’ and Kristin Mahoney’s ‘The 47 People You’ll Meet in Middle School,’ kids navigate the toughest crossing.
