§ Where do you go? o Beach, Biddeford, Portland o Change Park Street School to something fun for kids to do o Use Trios as a coffee house o The label of
“Community Center” or “Teen Center” is a deterrent o Go on extended trips or field trips What is your sense of the relationship of young people with the police? o Kids lie and run from police at parties o All interaction is negative o Police are always swarming at the beach to kick out the kids o Officer Carney, SRO, is great! He is a welcoming presence. o Cops have nothing better to do than mess with kids o They tail us all the time What makes your lives easier? o Sports o Socializing How do you feel about the zero tolerance policy? o Don’t like it o Should be consequences but students
shouldn’t be removed from the team; suspension from team for a period of time instead o They don’t like the guilt by association when at parties. They would like to go to parties and be seen as leaders who don’t drink. Right now they don’t go and can’t be role models for others o Police often don’t pick up on a kid who has been drinking. They ask questions but can be fooled. o One student said that a member of the Captains’ Club was at a party and not drinking and another student was drinking beer. That student then decided not to drink and pursued a Captains’ Club membership. Student was a very positive example. Conclusion and questions from students: What change is going to come of this? What has the Youth Services Commission done? o This dialogue is a change and part of the change process. o
Asking these questions and getting input can stimulate change. o Sharing your “voice” creates positive change Would you have been as honest if the police had been present?
o I wouldn’t have said what I did o It would impress the kids to see an officer here on their own time and showing they cared
The students suggested that the YSC go to other clubs and solicit more input into these issues from a diverse representation of students, such as the GSA, Student Council, etc.
The students suggested that we have more youth/adult dialogues and that another one should be organized soon. |
