Teenagers are rebels - that hasn't changed since the days of James Dean. But the risks they take are more dangerous than ever -- from drug use to running with gangs. What's a parent to do? In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, a surprise tip for parents - encourage your teen to seek out thrills.

SEGMENT 1:

William Ayers teaches at the University of Illinois at Chicago and is the author of "A Kind and Just Parent: The Children of Juvenile Court." Alex Correa is one of those children, all grown up. Alex tells Steve Paulson how he got into a life of crime and how he got out of it; Ayers offers some suggestions on how to help kids like Alex. Also, psychiatrist Lynn Ponton tells Jim Fleming that adolescents need to take risks, but there are ways adults can help make it a positive experience. Ponton teaches psychiatry at the University of California at San Francisco, and is the author of "The Romance of Risk: Why Teenagers Do the Things They Do."

SEGMENT 2:

Sociologist Lisbeth Schorr has collected stories of revolutionary social programs that work in her book "Common Purpose: Strengthening Families and Neighborhoods to Rebuild America." She tells Judith Strasser about an experimental program in Hawaii and what it takes to scale a successful local program up to national use.

SEGMENT 3:

Iris Krasnow was once a feature writer for UPI. Then she had four boys. Now she's a Mom who writes part-time. She tells Anne Strainchamps that choosing the role of mother over that of journalist is the most satisfying thing she's ever done. Somehow, she finished a book: "Surrendering to Motherhood: Losing Your Mind, Finding Your Soul."

Distribution dates:

• week of 11/02/97 - hour 1