The Problem
There’s a major problem in Britain today. Anti-social behaviour. And the teenagers are being blamed for a fair chunk of it.
Although I can’t find an excuse for the ASBO culture, after all I don’t think there were any more facilities when I was thirteen, I do wonder where our teenagers are supposed to go of an evening.
We don’t want a gang of teenagers in our homes at night when we are trying to relax (although this is the favourable alternative at the moment), they can’t go hang out at a pub, and we don’t want them on the streets. There aren’t enough youth clubs to accomodate all the teenagers and the ones that are available usually run only one night a week.
The Solution
We need an evening program for younger teenagers to utilise, perhaps youth clubs, sports clubs and even a range of societies, similar to the options available at university, obviously on subjects of interest to the age range. I would include cookery, craft, and art as some of the choices that should be on offer, along with a place to just hang out, chat and socialise.
I often wonder why school premises can’t be utilised more. After all we pay a lot of money to upkeep these buildings, they’re contents and equipment, yet you’re lucky if their open from 8am - 6pm. The government could be doing so much more in the education sector, they say it’s a priority, but is it really?
My own solution would be to have a team of youth workers with the necessary authority to open schools between the hours of say 6pm - 9pm, and even during the day at the weekend. A program of extra curricular activities would be drawn up, but would remain optional, here is an example, as I would have it;
Spring Term
Monday: Football (mini world cup) or Cooking (healthy treats)
Tuesday: Hockey or Book Club
Wednesday: Team Building Skills or Painting
Thursday: Entrepreneurial Project (starting a business) or Athletics
Friday: Youth Club
Saturday: Youth Club
The youth club would be run by a board of senior club members (teenagers of 15/16) and one adult youth worker. This would encourage ownership of the club and leadership in the senior members.
As well as the above set activities and short courses I would have a safe communal area for socialising.
Each term would see a rotation of the sports and short courses available which could include first aid, badminton, rounders, Duke of Edinburgh Award, the possibilities are endless, the only obstacle is the cost, but then if we want well rounded children who are socially able, we need [as a society] to provide the facilities and equipment so that are youngsters can excel.
Photo by flickr user unblessed scalar
9 Responses to “An Evening Program for Teenagers”
Here, here! Completely agree. Let’s see some more constructive ways for teenagers to spend their time.
What a great idea!! I absolutely agree, let’s utilize these schools AFTER hours, too. In fact, it might help improve teenagers’ attitude about school in general if they are hanging out there and having FUN. Speaking as a mother of two teenage sons, it would be WONDERFUL to have someplace safe they could go and hang out with their friends. Great suggestions!
I agree. Out teenagers need a safe place to go in the evenings, hang out with their friends, and not be wondering around the streets looking for something to do, thats how they end up in trouble.
Good point about changing attitude towards school Karen. I hadn’t really thought of that as, yet anothe plus point of utilizing schools.
Great ideas but my sceptical side kicks in here, people like me and you would love this to happen but our goverment wouldnt fund it or they’d fund it in the areas where its not going to benefit!
Yep, the funding is where it would all fall down.
Excellent ideas! If the government won’t sponsor such a thing, it would be a good program to get corporate sponsorship.
You’re right Little Mummy, something needs to be done. We are lucky where we are because a specific Youth Centre has been built in our area and is opening this month, so it will be interesting to see what happens. What crossed my mind though was the similarity between what you’re suggesting and the Scouts/Girl Guide movement. It’s a great institution with facilities in most towns but naby teens probably don’t see it as cool enough. Maybe it could do with another shake-up to appeal to those who need it most.
Glennia - Good idea with the corporate sponsorship.
21st Century Mummy - I went to cadets and that’s about as close as you can get I think (for teenagers) I’d highly recommend it for other people’s teenagers, however, again it is only on two nights a week, and about 6 weekends a year but it’s an improvement on the schedule of most youth clubs.
This is one of the main problems, there are some great facilities available one or two nights a week, but what about the other five or six?