http://www.northfloridanewsdaily.com/News/2008/0811/opinion/150.html


opinions on this one guys.

If a bowling alley came up for a vote to fund with public money, I wouldn't vote for it. But, I would suggest to the zoning board or Communiy Development Committee that they layout a section on land where one could be built.

Bowling alleys are NOT baby sitting buildings, but, in some communities around here, that's what they are. We had a new Brunswick Family Center open in November, with indoor game rooms, bumper cars, laser tag, and outside mini golf and batting cages. It is not uncommon to see cars pull up on Saturday mornings, and just drop a bunch of kids off. They probably stay there for the day. This is a day care center.

It is a shame that parents don't take responsibility for their children in many cases today. Children should not be hanging out in parking lots or bowling alleys. Where is their parental control? Especially, school aged kids. Don't they have curfews for kids? Doesn't the school give homework? Don't kids have part time jobs?

This town is in sad shape, and the kids are even sadder. I blame the parents, and don't think town should be responsible to fund what a parent should be doing.

Maybe the parents should be ticketed for their kids loitering.

I would vote for bowling alley. I actually accredit youth league for keeping me on straight and narrow. I never got involved with the "wrong crowd". I bowled youth league through high school. When i was not bowling league i was at bowling alley volunteering helping set up bumpers for bumpers leagues or at the front desk spraying rental shoes.

However, my parents were main cause i stayed in school and attended college and graduated with a degree. They were involved in my life from what ever i wanted to do. From little leagues to bowling leagues.

To be honest, I don't see it that way. So many teens get into trouble because there is nothing to do. If they don't have anything fun to do, I guarantee they will find something fun to do and that something will not be legal.

I used to be a kid and remember how bored I was, because there wasn't anything to do. And I got into trouble because of it. If there were more bowling alleys I probably wouldn't have gotten in as much trouble as I did.

Interesting article to say the least. Here's my opinion as a teacher. I do believe that there needs to be more of a focus of education for the youth, but that's where I end my agreement with him. First of all, I do believe that a bowling alley, etc. is not a bad idea, as long as it does not become another loitering hangout like the ones described in the article. Secondly, the comments that he makes show that he has no idea about what needs to be done in our educational system to make students/young people more responsible.



Wow, how creative, textbooks, never heard that one before. Many better uses for money in schools (at least at the high school level) besides textbooks. If he thinks the textbook leaves the locker and ends up at home for studying, he's living in 1978, not 2008. I've overheard many a student comment that they never took a textbook out of their locker for the whole year.



College, even more creative than textbooks. This ones burns me big time, I'm pretty tired of hearing that college is the greatest thing for every single student who is graduating form high school. Bottom line, college is not for every student who graduates from high school. Good opinion article on the topic.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/...n1.465abff.html

Money would be better spent in programs that will help students discover what they want to do in a career, not just try to shove everyone into college. I will never understand why so many people in education think that becoming a tradesman instead of going to college somehow makes you less of a person.

Money could also be used in programs that help teach responsibility, respect, hard work, and discipline at a young age, when it needs to be learned. Schools seem to be too much on the hurting self-esteem concept to actually do this. Also, if he wants the parents to focus on something, this is what they should be focused on. In the long run, that works much better than trying to push underachieving high school students into college.

Mark

I agree with the original article some. More money does need to the allotted to schools, but this still doesn't do anything for keeping them out of trouble. First the parents need to do more, and be held more responsible.

Outside parents taking responsibility and if public funds are going to be used a bowling center, ice rink or theaters aren't the answer. Something more like a community center or something like a Boys and Girls Club of America would be more suitable. Something that is one dimensional just limits things. When I lived in Detroit I within in a few miles to a huge one. It was great, multiple activities, sports, and plenty of others of the same age to hang with. My older sister and brother and I would be there often. Unfortunately the only one I ever found in Baltimore was terrible, with hardly anyone there and a small building. Something like that would give the youth something to do.

I also agree with Mark that college isn't for everyone, nor some of the jobs you are suppose to get when you get out of college. I for one like a job that's a little more labor intensive, hence me being in construction. Most the the youth of today look at being a tradesman as lowly and not respectable, but that's because wages aren't as good as they should be.

Apparently the writer of that article has no idea about USBC and its youth league and scholarship program. No other sport gives away schorlarship starting at such young ages. At least none that I know of. The writer does not know about USBCs Registered Volunteer Program that includes background checks on those personel that regular come in contact with youth bowlers.

Does this writer want the kids to study and work their entire lives? I remember studying hard sure. And certainly schools and education need continual monetary support. But there was not a lot to do in our small town except go to the beach. Which we did on a regular basis. And in the winter we sledded and ice skated.....not indoors mind you but out on local ponds and cranberry bogs. Now a days its harder to find things for kids to do and still keep them safe. Getting them out of the house away from the TV, internet and video games is tough and expensive. I know bowling is not terribly physical, but its something. Keep in mind that due to today's environment for latchkey kids that are penned up indoors all week, the bowling center or skating parlor on the weekends is a welcomed break to at least move around a bit. Most"Entertainment" centers offer not only bowling but many have batting cages and climbing walls. All good physical stuff for kids to do.

Erin

I would think in this day and age we could have articles without advertisements for olive garden being smashed up so close to the words that I could hardly read them.

Past that, bowling centers should never be built with public funds, or used as unsupervised daycare centers.

i never went to college and i make good money now. love what you can do for me toyota. but heck i have had some ruff jobs in the past and have worked hard to get where i'm at. i graduated high school is about it. i've been working since 16 and never got to look back at what i missed. i don't have time. i work in the auto business. i help make engines that goes in the tundra trucks that toyota makes. college wold have been something that i would have liked to have done but never got to. so be it i guess. i like my trade and thats cool to me. so i agree with you inferno on that.

yup bowling centers should'nt be built with public funds. i wish there would be something else for kids and teens. i didn't have places to go, but i lived in the middle of nowhere when i was growing up. i mean nowhere. the closest town was 30 mins away. i live in god's country. nothing else around but family. and cows.
so i played out side all day and at night i played video games. but i stayed out till dark or so everyday. tv has hardly been in my life. i do like some of the stuff on now or days. but i still have it off most of the time. but all i do is work so i dont get a chance to watch it much. maybe 5 hours a week. never can tell maybe less or more sometimes.

people need to help kids and teens. the bowling alley in florence is over run with teens and its packed on the weekends. they just hang around. some bowl most don't. still there isn't much for them to do. mall movies bowl. thats about it. somebody needs to help but noone cares. sad

Boy fury, get your time in while you can. You are still young. I have a partner that worked for Nummi putting in engines, gas tanks etc.....for years. One back injury got him layed off with no discussion of ever coming back. His son ( only got the job due to his dad) is now at Nummi since 1991, and he's slightly over your age. He's counting his time too. Get in and get out....20 years if you can make it. Love your job to be sure, but never count on it. And while you have found a niche that didn't require a college degree and higher education, and yet able to make a good living, you are in the minority.

Kids need places to go which engage them in activities beyond the home and school. They do need places to socialize if it can be done within reason. If a bowling center or "Entertainment" center provides that then all the better. I think public money is spent on way too many things of much less social value then that. These days kids don't play outside until dark like they did in my day. Parents are not home and the social environment is more dangerous then it was.

Do girls still go to the malls? I mean in my day that was just starting to be the thing. Go out to the mall and hang out. Parents used to drop their girls off a the malls all day. I'd much rather see kids and teens in a compound that provided games and activities for them vs. walking around, eating and shopping (or shop lifting).

Erin