The Hawk

Issue date: 9/26/07 Section: Entertainment

The youths had to haul their provisions to Bonanza City.

Bonanza City, N.M., once a flourishing mining town, is now deserted. Today, 40 children have the chance to rebuild the town, proving they can build a better world for tomorrow. With just 40 days and no adults, can it be done?

"Kid Nation" is CBS's newest reality series about 40 children, ages 8-15, attempting to survive pioneer-style on their own in a virtual ghost town. While coping with homesickness and peer pressure, the children also pump their own water, cook their own meals, and basically fend for themselves. As a new experience to all, high tension and personality clashes were certainly evident in the first episode.

Expressions of eagerness and wonder filled the faces of the children as they climbed out of the yellow school bus upon arriving at their destination. These expressions quickly turned to disbelief as they found out that their first task was to haul wagons full of supplies miles down a dirt road to Bonanza City. Once there, they were told to divide into four districts - red, yellow, blue, and green - in order to delegate jobs and get the town organized.

Four children were pre-selected to be the town council and manage the town as the district leaders. They will also have the prestigious task of awarding one child at each town meeting with a gold star. The gold star is worth $20,000 and is awarded to the one whom the council felt worked the hardest.

After being put into four different color districts by the town council, the groups competed in a task to determine each district's respective occupation and salary in the town. First place was considered the "upper class" and paid one dollar each; second place became the merchants, who were paid 50 cents; third place took the job of the cooks for 25 cents; and fourth place became the laborers for a measly 10 cents.

At the final town meeting some children expressed that they were unimpressed with the efforts of the town council, while others had certain misgivings about individual people. For the most part, however, the children worked together during the first few days and essentially survived on their own. Only one child elected to return home, which is a privilege given to everyone at each town meeting.

In essence, the idea of "Kid Nation" sounds intriguing. Children are going to live on their own, run a town on their own, and make decisions for themselves showing that they can make Bonanza City thrive without making the same mistakes as their elders. This premise, however, is not really being carried out. Sure, the children are cooking for themselves and handling different jobs, but the jobs were given to them, along with the idea to divide into districts. The only adult in Bonanza City (other than some physicians in the case of an emergency) is the host, who periodically gives instructions to the children to help stay organized. While this does not fall in line with the premise, it definitely should be the case; otherwise, there would be chaos.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools