The usually sparsely populated city council chambers were standing room
only last Monday night. Both adults and young people turned out to
demonstrate their support for the proposals brought forth by the Youth Task
Force in general, and a skate park in particular. One Moscow High School
Student presented the council with 250 letters, written by fellow students,
expressing their interest and concern about the activities provided for
youth in our community. Another student presented a petition signed by 300
individuals, asking that the council support the creation of a skate park.
The interesting feature of this petition was that the signers were willing
to put their time and energy behind their request: they stated they would
be willing to help build the park and raise the funds needed to make it a
reality. They weren't asking for a free ride, a new toy delivered on a
silver platter. They were offering their own services, and inviting the
community to become a partner.
As I see it, the city council has two options. The first option would be
to move quickly to capitalize on the excitement and energy of young people
who have taken the mature step of working through the system to achieve a
goal which benefits the communtiy as a whole. A commitment to a timeline
that would result in a skate park within six - nine months would go a long
way towards persuading understandably sceptical teens that government can
be responsive. The second option would be to pat these kids on the head,
and file the letters, petitions, and task force report in a file marked "To
be considered.... someday." By the time "someday" arrives, many of the
youth in that room Monday night will have left Moscow, or at least their
youth, behind.
What we have here, folks, is what those of us in education call "a
teachable moment." The Moscow city council needs to decide what lesson
these kids should learn. Should the lesson be that government is ponderous
and slow, that there's no point in "getting involved" because it won't
matter anyway?
I would prefer that the young people of Moscow learn that putting forth an
effort, talking to fellow citizens, making public statements, and working
for a community cause are worthwhile endeavours. That individuals willing
to come forward and speak for their peers can make a difference. That
government, at least at the local level, can work.
I ask the Moscow city council, and the Moscow community, to support the
efforts of the young people in this town. We have the opportunity to send
several hundred youth into adulthood believing in citizenship and civic
responsibility.
Laurie Danahy
2341 Henry Ct.
Moscow, ID 83843