TAKE CARE WITH LAWS AIMED AT TEENS

Making laws tends to be a reactionary process for the most part. A situation arises, and lawmakers propose legislation to deal with that situation in the future. Teen-agers -- controlling their behavior and their rights, which used to be the responsibility of parents -- are a particular target this year in the Missouri Legislature.

Several bills have been introduced, and the one that seems to be getting the most response -- mostly negative -- from teen-agers is a proposal to allow school superintendents to decide which teens can obtain a driver's license based on academic performance, attendance and behavior.

The argument for this plan is based on the premise that responsible teen-agers who demonstrate they are good students are likely to be just as responsible when they are behind the wheel of an automobile. This may well be, but the proposal overlooks the needs of teens who have jobs and may not be top performers at school -- or may not even be in school. More than that, the proposal avoids the issue of providing or even requiring adequate training before a license is issued. Any 16-year-old who can pass a written test and whose parent or friend has coached them well enough to pass a driving test can get a license. There is no requirement for teens to take driving lessons or to learn the fundamentals of good driving and the rules of the road. A good first step might be, as some other states have done, to reward students who satisfactorily complete a school-based driving course by issuing them a license without having to take the written or driving tests administered by the state.

Other proposals aimed at teens would usurp even more authority of local school boards to run their districts on the basis of local standards. For example, one bill would make it a crime -- a misdemeanor -- to cheat in school. That sounds rather extreme when there already are rules, developed school by school, for dealing with academic dishonesty. Another bill would require the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance at least once a week in schools. While reciting the pledge is a worthwhile activity, it doesn't take a state legislature to decide how often that should be done. Again, local school administrators and boards are capable of making this choice.

One bill that is seen as aimed at teen-agers actually applies to all motorists: It would regulate the volume of car stereos. A lot of ear-splitting noise comes from vehicles usually driven by males who might be well past their teens. Cape Girardeau's City Council is currently looking at a proposed ordinance to regulate such noise in the city.

Finally, there is a bill to regulate sex education in schools. The proposal would require the teaching of abstinence as a preferred behavior, would separate boys from girls during sex education and would bar schools from distributing contraceptives. It is shameful to the people of Missouri that the lack of parental involvement in this area has resulted in such a complete government takeover of basic moral values.