Girls And Boys Have A Day At Newsweek

Unfair, the boys had said last time. Why do the girls get Take Our Daughters to Work Day, and we get ignored? Because, we said, gifts tend to suffer from wobbly self-esteem and need positive role models. Oh yeah, said the boys, don't we need role models too? So last week NEWSWEEK joined such corporations as Ford, Nynex and Chrysler in declaring April 27 Take Our Child to Work Day.

We set the kids to work. If it were your magazine, we asked, what stories would you put in it this week? "How about a column on 'Does Clinton Talk Too Much?' "Definitely had possibilities, we thought. "Why Are Teenage Girls Obsessed With Dieting?" and "How to Be Rich and Famous and Not Kill Yourself Like Kurt Cobain" were both winners. So was one that was so hot you'll read about it in a week or so (hint: it has something to do with hair). We discussed a piece on industrial-plant safety. "When people go to nurseries, they should ask for nonexploding plants," a younger guest advised.

The recent massacre in Rwanda was deemed news-worthy, but our guest editors were unanimous about one thing: no pictures of slaughtered victims. But, we protested, we have these extraordinary photos. Too bad, the kids said; "too gory." Boldly, Liz Orofmo, 9, added, "And we're not going to show any pictures of dead babies in Oklahoma, either," But we need to show those, we argued. She shook her head. "Too depressing."

They were nice, smart kids -- even the boys who got into a wrestling match in the executive dining room; even the girl who wedged three hot dogs in her mouth and shot them out like missiles. How we wished they could be spared this week's photos from Rwanda and Oklahoma.