Young Adults Speak Up...

national | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Thursday April 20, 2006 13:50

by Jessica Lauren

But is anyone listening?

This article is submitted by Jessica Lauren

Age: 15 (16 next week)

(c) Evening Echo, Cork

In an age obsessed with political correctness it should be unthinkable that any sector of society can be negatively stereotyped with impunity or denied basic social needs and rights such as the right to socialise and congregate. It should also be unthinkable that they can be dismissed or derided if they speak up or protest about this.

Yet this is in fact the situation of young people in the early 21st century.

It would be illegal to treat people like this on grounds of race or gender and it would be wholly unacceptable if they were elderly. Imagine talk of banning flat caps because young people thought they made old men look intimidating, or eradicating handbags because women might hit people with them.

This sense of being second-class citizens was the general feeling expressed at the Skibbereen Youth Forum called on Tuesday 11th April, instigated by Jackie Cotter, local resident, after listening to concerns of some local so-called ‘boy racers’ and realising that these concerns were merely symptomatic of a much wider issue in the area.

The forum was attended by a variety of young people aged 12-18. The panel consisted of a Gardaí representative, several parents, a freelance journalist, one local councillor, representatives of Foróige, the West Cork Arts Centre and some affiliated youth workers, and one youth representative from the floor who was asked at the last minute to join the panel.

The points which were raised very vocally and articulately by the young people were as follows:

1.Trying to socialise is a catch-22 situation, because a group of young people gathered together are usually assumed to be up to no good and asked to move on. There are however very few places for young people to go.

2.There are very few facilities for young people just to socialise. There is a small sports centre which has a small gym and clubs of various sports. There are some sports teams such as the rowing club and the GAA. There are also art and drama activities at the West Cork Arts Centre.These are however niche interests and they are not for everyone. Also, the predominant norms of youth culture mean that organised art and drama are considered to be hopelessly uncool by a lot of young people and are often seen as an extension of school.

3.The lack of underage events and venues.

The positive suggestions made by the youths were as follows:

1.A proposition for a skateboarding facility.

2.A dedicated facility such as a youth café where youngsters can socialise without being hassled.

3.A ‘battle of the bands’ event and more facilities for local bands to rehearse.

4.The desirability of facilities such as a cinema or swimming pool.

5.The desire to clean up the environment, particularly the Ilen River.

The teenagers told the truth very genuinely from their point of view, but it seemed that they got little back other than a list of reasons why the suggestions they made were not feasible, such as that there were no premises or that insurance was too expensive. Whilst some panel representatives were encouraging, the general feedback from some authority figures was that the meeting was negative in its tone, and the journalist present indicated later that coverage would be unlikely because of this. It would seem, however, more likely that these people were affronted that the teenagers had told the truth and that they were critical of the authorities and their elders. Conversely, the young people felt it was a positive meeting precisely because they had told the truth as they experienced it. What is the point of speaking up if what you say is dismissed because it is critical? This would seem to be a suppression of free speech.

UK Initiatives show that it is cost-effective to provide adequately for young people as negative consequences are avoided, and two large local studies support the points of view expressed by teenagers in Skibbereen.

The Douglas Active Teens Association surveyed 350 young people aged 9-18, the Gardaí, parents and teachers. The conclusions they reached were:

a…There is no designated space in the modern built environment for young people. The old adage that you should ‘make your own entertainment’ is no longer feasible in reality because there is nowhere acceptable for teenagers to do so. The main problem is that the modern environment is consumer-orientated and based on profit, and there is not much money to be made from youngsters.

b….Young people find that if they congregate they are treated as a threat, hassled and incessantly asked to move on. This leads to a tendency for teenagers to gather in out-of-the-way areas where they are then targeted by drug pushers.

c….The overwhelming consensus was that there is a need for a pleasant, safe place for young people just to ‘be’ if they wish.

d…..Facilities for activities are certainly needed, but they are not everything. Youth is an issue for the whole community.

A survey in Macroom in 2006 by the Diocesan Council had similar findings as did one undertaken by Transition Year students at Mercy Heights Secondary School, Skibbereen.

The government’s National Children’s Strategy stresses the importance of consultation with young people. This is obviously worthless if you then dismiss what they say because you don’t like what you hear. The American social commentator Fred Dutton had a point when he said that a society which does not value its young has no future. Perhaps it would also be worth remembering that we are the voters of the future.

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Comments (11 of 11)

Your news and views are always welcome here

by M Cotton

Thu Apr 20, 2006 14:14

Very interesting article. It would be useful to know which newspaper the journalist writes for. Maybe you could write to the editor and ask him/her to reconsider?

hear hear!!!

by phoebe (15)

Thu Apr 20, 2006 14:48

well said jessica. this kind of discrimination is also unfortunately a part of schools. for instance one teacher in my school is so infuriatingly patronising that he actually goes so far as to make us repeat words syllable for syllable "can you say tol-er-ance"; others will laugh if you use "long words" .
just one thing with regards to drama clubs etc being seen as extensions of school; i just think teenagers need to grow about things like that. if you cant do something you are interested in because you're afraid it would upset your popularity or seem "uncool" then you seriously need to sort out your priorities.

fair play

by A

Thu Apr 20, 2006 15:34

Good on you all. Keep doing what you are doing no matter what.

"None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm." ~ Henry David Thoreau

get in touch with these guys..

by youth revolt

Thu Apr 20, 2006 16:52

You could negotiate with the cops and council but you know they will never take the interests of youth to heart, they're scared of young people.

This lot seem to be on the right path..
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/75231

whereas I am loathe to see societies such as Ireland's adopt the anglo-saxon culture of taboo

by hmmmmm

Fri Apr 21, 2006 01:46

& political correctness, that allows a child to be a soldier, or to be executed, or to work a 10 hour day, but does not allow them consume alcohol... or buy CDs where words of certain meaning are used, or watch movies where n-i-p-p-l-e-s are visible, or seek contraception... (thinking all such puritan taboos only serve in creating more messed up and imbalanced members of society, and ironically encourage abuse of alcohol and intoxicants).
But I think and have thought after long reflection that sites such as indymedia are not "family sites" and that parental discretion ought apply to certain elements and that wider social movements ought still seek the thoughts of parents on the involvement of their children in political campaigns or expression. I do not condone nor do I condemn any parent of a teenager who allows or does not allow their child to watch certain TV programes, read certain magazines, study certain literature or enter certain internet sites, thats playing the puritan yankee game... But certainly the political adventures on a public stage of any parent's children ought be of concern to the parent, and if not to their elders. & this site with its readership and software which monitors it, -is a public stage-. Not least as the technology our youngsters and ourselves have become so used to, may too often be abused by others who only pretend to share our beliefs, concerns, hopes or love of skateboarding.

Kids do best when they are with other Kids.
don't trust anyone over 30! & remember till you see that passport, you don't know if someone is over 30. and microsoft passports don't count.

Youth voices on SpunOut.ie!!

by SpunOut.ie

Fri Apr 21, 2006 02:42

info at spunout dot ie

great article! Well done - keep em coming! It's about time us young people had our say!!!!!

Just to let ya know that there are tons of teenagers and peeps in their 20s voicing opinions on similar issues via our non-profit SpunOut.ie Youth Website.

Examples of articles at: http://www.spunout.ie/about_sub.php?id=671

A few cool heads set up Community Creations a couple of years ago to try and get positive healthy community projects going - including gigs, events, art exhibitions, magazines etc.. SpunOut.ie is the flagship project and is promoted the length and breath of this fair isle.

More info on Community Creations at http://www.community.ie

As well as finding out tons of info on sex, drugs and rock n roll in a non-cheesy/agenda driven format, young people can send in articles, ideas, rants, raves, poems, art, video, audio and discussion youth issues on our discussion boards.

Discussion boards http://www.spunout.ie/discuss.php

Find out how you can get involved here: http://spunout.ie/action_sub.php?id=58

Macko, SpunOut.ie volunteer

Cool article!

by elisa

Fri Apr 21, 2006 17:39

But your wrong.....course there's loadsa places where kids can hang out....there called shopping centres...sure wasnt that why dundrum was built to spend,spend,spend mummy and daddys money

Youth

by John - dunaree2000

Fri Apr 21, 2006 18:13

Might I enquire whom you wish to pay for all these entertainment facilities? Have you ever considered joining a camogie club? They're very strong down your way. Teenagers have been whining since the beginning of time. I myself whined continuously about the unfairness of life from the age of 13 until 17 or 18. Then I gew up. Its only nowadays that teenage tantrums have been elevated into a political movement. In general, teenagers of today in Ireland have it very easy compared with all previous generations of teenagers. They're likely to find it easy to get jobs, they have far more income (whether from part-time jobs or pocket money), they have far greater leisure facilities than any previous generation of teenagers. So, a little less whining would be in order.

doing things to make your dreams realities

by dunk

Fri Apr 21, 2006 19:10

fuspey at yahoo dot co dot uk

sounds like you need to get together and try to create a social space, be that a building, part of a building, a park, community garden, derelict space

the young people of greystones felt the same it seems, and did something about it. see the recent indymedia feature about the space they created and the life that lead to:
"Basta!" Teens Prepare For Loss Of Hall
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/75231

here in dublin a few of us have got toghether and created 2 new community gardens, it has been great fun and could have been used as a social space more. our garden group had people from about 8 to about 60+ and loads inbetween
there is a group in cork that have been setting up such spaces in the city for some time, mandala gardens: http://www.corkcommunitygardens.com/

dolphins barn garden feature:
Bringing Nature to Man's Domain
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/69689
recent feature about closure of garden:
Dolphin's Barn community garden under threat
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/75438
garden website:
http://www.dolphinsbarngarden.org/

also in dublin the seomra spraoi collective has been trying to set up a social centre, young people have been invovled and we have done kids days for toddlers:
children's day:
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/74484
background to us and history of other projects:
Seomra Spraoi collective invites you to a night of play, art, discussion, film, food, disco
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/71888

theres a TAZ (temporary autonomous zone) in cork up on barrack st, barraka books is the shop - different groups meet there to discuss and do things - maybe ye could organise and have a night there, we can send you down films and you can chat about what you could do - theres also a great spray paint car park in cork, forget exactly where, past county hall side i think, you might meet other heads who are into same things

also there are a lot of community groups, after schools projects, local centres doing great things- i worked with the art encounter in mayfield last summer with a lot of young people and it rocked, call them or call down to them and see the mural everyone helped paint with nicaraguans and colombians, talk with them and proposed ideas

dont be afraid of ideas, you have nothing to be afraid of by trying to turn them into realities, amazing things happen while trying- you live and learn- unfortunately too many people shut this off to quickly and forget to dream
mayfield arts centre
http://www.mayfieldarts.org/
art encounter 2005
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=70860&sea...lismo

also in cork are
wheres me culture?
http://www.wheresmeculture.com/ not sure if they are still doing things

hope all this helps

all the best

dunk

whining??ah now thats not fair

Fri Apr 21, 2006 19:54

its fine for the city folk guys but its bit differnt when you come from a little isolated town in the middle of no where......all these facilities you talk off are in cork city or Dublin..Its not very fair to say she's whining,Im from a little town in the country and its difficult to find like minded people,all there is for young people are sports and your considered an outsider if your not involved with these.

Whining? Grow up.

Sat Apr 22, 2006 21:55

Hey people, genuine thanks for the positive feedback/contributions. Thanks for the links too, I shall check those out. As for the individual who accuses me of whining:

"Might I enquire whom you wish to pay for all these entertainment facilities?"

Firstly, it's not 'me' who wants all the facilities. Secondly, I'm already involved with plans for a skate park, so if we can arrange these things something tells me the council can.

"Have you ever considered joining a camogie club? They're very strong down your way."

Good idea, but as I pointed out specific activities are not the answer. Young people need somewhere to just hang out without being hassled.

"I myself whined continuously about the unfairness of life from the age of 13 until 17 or 18. Then I gew (sic) up."

You are not an example of all teenagers. Some of us are, unbelievably, decent and uptogether people.

"Its only nowadays that teenage tantrums have been elevated into a political movement."

How do you expect any respect from young people if you have attitudes like that? When we try to speak up, we're dismissed as whining brats. Yeah, that really inspires respect. I'm doubtful that you 'grew up' if that's how you react. You seem to have spoken from a knee jerk reaction instead of actually listening.

Quite a few adults don't think it's just 'teenage tantrums' either. A distinct proportion of the people suggesting these facilities were adults.

"they have far greater leisure facilities than any previous generation of teenagers."

More leisure facilities are not the answer. Sure, you go to whatever training or activity you do and meet people. But that's a scheduled activity, you're still hanging around at other times.

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Comments (11 of 11)