Punky Kids + Bottle = Objects flying at my face

I've come to the conclusion that the only thing that will change these kids is parents. And unless someone is going to volunteer to step in and parent kids there isn't a lot that can be done. A rec center is great, but if kids don't know how to act, have no respect for themselves or others, and don't care about anything a rec center is just another place for them to misbehave.

Parents make the difference for kids, all kids, not just poor kids in low income communities. There are kids in PS whose parents are not involved in their upbringing and those kids are just as lost. The difference is those kids have money to divert themselves and their parents will send them wherever they want to go to get them out of their hair.

Unless you are going to take one of these "punks" and show them something else, some other way they will continue to be lost. Having someone at home to take care of these kids would change the neighborhood drastically. But when you have 20-something parents who are still trying to hang out and have a good time raising kids, what do you think is going to happen? A teacher can pay all the attention to a kid, but if the parent doesn't make sure the kid has come home, done their homework, has a full stomach when they go to school and gets a good night sleep so they are prepared to work, will that child learn anything?

I don't know what the answer is, but its a lot more involved than a rec center or an afterschool program. Its about raising kids with some structure and those of us who know better really committing to children. Until then, nothing will change.

it all comes down to moral values. some of us have it and others dont.

Kids learn morals, they aren't born with them. If someone doesn't teach them they won't have any.

armchair_warrior wrote: [quote=homeowner]

it all comes down to moral values. some of us have it and others dont.

Kids learn morals, they aren't born with them. If someone doesn't teach them they won't have any.

I think they know its wrong, they just simply ignore them. we all learn at a young age what is right and wrong. unless i'm wrong most kids have atleast 1 parent. and they are force to attend mandatory school till they are old enough to drop out. out of all those years in school i'm sure they learn something.

Actually for the most part that one parent that they have is on drugs, or doesn't care about what the child is doing. Some of these kids are doing to survive out here. It’s not that easy to get a job these days. McDonalds is not going to pay the bills that some of these kids are responsible for paying. I think that most of you don't want to face the reality of this. I do the best I can in taking some of them places, sponsoring them in basketball tournaments, etc. so they respect me. Hey its ok with me just ignore them and don't try to help them in any way. When they rob your ass, don't complain about it.

Anonymous wrote: [quote=armchair_warrior][quote=homeowner]

it all comes down to moral values. some of us have it and others dont.

Kids learn morals, they aren't born with them. If someone doesn't teach them they won't have any.

I think they know its wrong, they just simply ignore them. we all learn at a young age what is right and wrong. unless i'm wrong most kids have atleast 1 parent. and they are force to attend mandatory school till they are old enough to drop out. out of all those years in school i'm sure they learn something.

Quote from "guest"
Hey its ok with me just ignore them and don't try to help them in any way. When they rob your ass, don't complain about it.

Well,then they go to jail and problem solved.

"Some of these kids are doing to survive out here. It’s not that easy to get a job these days. McDonalds is not going to pay the bills that some of these kids are responsible for paying. I think that most of you don't want to face the reality of this. I do the best I can in taking some of them places, sponsoring them in basketball tournaments, etc. so they respect me. Hey its ok with me just ignore them and don't try to help them in any way. When they rob your ass, don't complain about it."

Every excuse that you make for them erases any benefits of your mentorship. What good is a basketball game when a child doesn't have an education or know about responsibility? I just love the pattern on these boards: teen harrasses or assaults "newcomer" - "newcomer" deserves abuse for allegedly failing to be friendly enough and for ever moving to the neighborhood in the first place. Teen is absolved and "newcomer" is now the wrongdoer.

And, please, explain how hurling a bottle at a person walking down the street minding his/her own business, is necessary for "survival"? That word is used so loosely these days that it amounts to little more than an excuse for committing a crime. "Hey, I had to rob the guy or sell drugs or [I love this word] hustle, I'm just out here trying to survive".