Using NewsHour Extra Feature Stories

Overview: NewsHour Extra feature stories can help students identify and interpret key issues in current events. This activity anticipates one class period, but the follow-up essay might be assigned as homework or in another period.

Warm Up: Use initiating questions to introduce the topic and find out how much your students know.

Main Activity: Have students read NewsHour Extra's feature story and answer the questions on the reading comprehension handout.

Discussion: Use discussion questions to encourage students to think about how the issues outlined in the story affect their lives and express and debate different opinions.

Follow-up: Students can write a 500-word editorial on the topic expressing their views and send it to NewsHour Extra [extra@newshour.org] for possible publication.

Evaluation: Students are graded on their answers to reading comprehension questions and/or their editorial.

Story: Quarterback's Accident Revs Motorcycle Helmet Debate, 06/19/06
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june06/helmet_6-19.html

Initiating Questions:

1. How old must you be to drive a motorcycle?

2. Do you need to wear a helmets when you ride a bicycle or motorcycle?

3. What are some laws that are designed to keep you safe?

Reading Comprehension Questions: (click here for printout)

1. Who is Ben Roethlisberger and why is he in the news right now?

Ben Roethlisberger, the 24-year-old quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who just came off a successful Super Bowl win, was seriously injured last week while riding his motorcycle without a helmet in downtown Pittsburgh.

2. What legal consequences will Roethlisberger face?

On Monday Pittsburgh police announced that Roethlisberger will be cited for failing to have a permit to operate a motorcycle and for failing to wear a helmet.

3. What are some state laws regarding helmets?

Twenty states have laws requiring all motorcyclists to wear a helmet.

Twenty-six states have laws requiring only some motorcyclists to wear a helmet, and four states do not have motorcycle helmet laws.

Most states that allow some riders to go without helmets have stipulations that riders younger than 18 wear them.

4. What is the nationwide motorcycle fatality rate?

The nationwide fatality rate -- the number of deaths per 100,000 registered vehicles -- rose from 55 in 1997 to 69 in 2003, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

5. How many states require the use of safety or seat belts?

Helmet use is not the only behavior regulated by states. Forty-nine states have safety or seat belt laws. New Hampshire is the only state without one.

6. What do critics of helmet and other safety laws argue? Why do they think such laws are not necessary or good?

Critics of universal helmet and other safety laws, don't argue that seat belts or helmets are safer. Rather, they argue, these are personal decisions that should not be made by the government.

"Do we want government officials inspecting our cupboards and refrigerators for 'dangerous' foods? Or checking our cholesterol and waistlines? No? Then seat belt laws, mandatory helmet regulations and the like must be rescinded," syndicated columnist Eric Peters wrote in an editorial for the National Motorists Association.

Discussion Activity (more research might be needed):

1. What do you think? Should states require that motorcyclists wear helmets? Why or why not?

2. What are the rules regarding the use of helmets, for motorcycles and bicycles, or seat belts in your state or community? Do you agree with them?

3. Critics argue that there are lots of things that are dangerous that the government does not regulate. What is your opinion of this argument? Are there additional laws that should be created to "protect" people? What might they be? How popular do you think they would be? What are the benefits or challenges of such legislation?

Write a 300-500 word essay on any of these topics providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra (extra@newshour.org). Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site.