Do I dare disturb the universe? That is the question that political flunkies should be asking before they leap blindly into decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse. Today the Hour editorial page pompously declares:
It is promising, however, to see the Common Council’s Health, Welfare and Public Safety Committee come forward with a proposal to hold a forum on youth issues, aimed at reducing violence among city teenagers.
The hope is that the forum would bring together representatives of the schools, after-school programs, police, religious and other organizations to discuss ways of dealing with the problem.
Oh yeah, nary a mention of the participation of the Norwalk teens and children. You know, the “youth” part of youth issues. Because the world has’nt had enough of the latest grouping of adults murmuring in retreat of the obvious. Needless to say I part ways the wonks who believe that only government can provide solutions to societal issues. I’m more of the let grassroots grow.
Which is why it was refreshing to see the diverse crowd of parents, teens, educators clergy, and yes even political flunkies, sitting in a circle discussing how to get teens and youth engaged in working and communicating about stuff that happens. You have only to read the Cambridge report to see that the systemic failure in the schools starts with the lack of communication and continues with the failure of the top down command structure, and the abdication by the BOE in holding any of school administration officials responsible for any of their actions.
Gathering the same people who brought you to this precarious state and asking them to hold some some committee meeting to hold a forum on a wide range of topics “… going from returning to neighborhood school districting to after-school activities to a dress code, obviously aimed at curbing the wearing of gang colors.” is the definition of insanity.
And the gall of the closing line “And we need more than just talk.”
Good grief Charlie Brown. Talk and listening, or as like I like to refer to it as, conversation, is exactly what’s missing! Clueless and out of touch is what have been delivering, year after year.
I mean think about it. Why would anyone under the age of 18 want to go to city hall to talk about their daily grind of issues? The action is in the schools, in the playing fields, and in the streets, places where kids hang out. Maybe we should think about providing more recreational centers for kids instead of worrying about which political flunkie will advise them on fashion.
Nirvana sums it up:
source: The Hour, Proposed youth forum a good initial step, editorial, February 8, 2007
