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Youths speak
JNEITHER THE PROBLEM nor the answer came as news to Rappahannock’s older generations, but having the youngsters themselves pinpoint the issue ought to serve ars an added spur to consideration of possible solutions.
We refer to the survey report printed in this issue where a consensus of high school youths brought up the need for a youth center, some place where they could go and enjoy themselves apart from school activities.
Hardly any family in Rappahannock has escaped the trend of recent years whereby a youngster grows up, finishes schooling *— and then moves away. Part of the reason is economic, and that’s another question. But we suspect that some part of the reason for going away is mixed up with youthful memories of “nothing to do.”
IT’S FINE TO GO fishing and hunting, or exploring barns, when ygu’re under 12 — that magic age which Booth Tarkington wisely regarded as one of the pinnacles of a human lifetime. But when you’re older than marbles and kites, but not old enough for cars and other “grownup” diversions, what’s to do in a rural community like ours?
Watch television? With its endless “re-runs” and even more banal “new” offerings?
It would be interesting to see some leaders of the older generations, who so often deplore the moving-away trend of the younger generation, take the kids up on their youth center suggestion, give it some study, and see what happens. □
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