Teenagers Are Better Than Headlines Would Indicate

Sat., Dec. 27, 1997

Scott Siera Special To Opinion

Barry Loukaitis and Kentucky copycat Michael Carneal. Teen drunken drivers. Delinquents disobeying curfews. Images of violent, contemptible teens frequently take center stage in the media.

Unfortunately, isolated incidents of bad news seem to be of much more interest in media coverage than mainstream good news about teens. People are then inclined to base their opinions of teenagers on the bad images they perceive. Many teens report poor service at stores, avoidance by adults and general disrespect because of these misconceptions. Some parents will not even trust teens to baby-sit their children. Should teens mistrust adults because we constantly hear about Timothy McVeigh and Saddam Hussein?

A detailed examination of teens’ activities in the Inland Northwest this year reveals much integrity. Some say that teens are antisocial and lack a work ethic. Yet a group of Coeur d’Alene teens helped to construct a public playground because they wished to better their community.

Some assume that teens ignore the values of education. Yet average scores on the SAT college admissions test, along with the number of teens taking these tests, have increased this year. Those who doubt the individual accomplishments of teens ought to examine the Kudos column in this newspaper’s Our Generation section, which recognizes these accomplishments. The condition of teens is not nearly as bad as extremes would lead us to believe.

Dispelling the myth that teens are apathetic to social problems, students at numerous area high schools work for charitable goals. West Valley High School has a special baby-food drive. In preparation for their Groovy Shoes basketball game, rival high schools North Central and Shadle Park compete to raise food for Spokane’s hungry. Ferris High School sponsors a blood drive.

Teens also play a role in our city government. Spokane’s Chase Youth Commission uses the direct input of teens to solve community problems. Understanding the importance of communication and cooperation with adults, teens wish to better our society. If we look beyond the superficial headlines, this understanding can become more widespread and mutual.

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This sidebar appeared with the story: About Teen Views The Spokesman-Review’s Our Generation Teen Council meets monthly, debating a topic of interest to teens. One member then writes a commentary on the topic.

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