Problems facing our kids

If you get a chance, please check out the latest conversation on The Spokesman-Review’s Vox Box about the biggest problems facing children in our community.

A recent Spokesman-Review poll indicated that “drugs and alcohol” top the list. However, the young people on the Vox Box blog seem to indicate otherwise.

Here are some responses from local teens:

“Those hundreds of parents voting for drugs/alcohol seem to not trust youth (probably their own kids) to stay away from such things. Not only does it cast doubt on their parenting skills, it begs the questions: what are we supposed to think when parents think we are that stupid?”

“I don’t know why most adults think drugs and alcohol are the biggest problems facing us. If that’s what they’re most worried about us falling into, then they have a LOT of research to do. We’ve all taken Sex Ed. We know what “a few beers” can lead to, and we’re smart enough to stay away. It really bugs me how stupid adults seem to think we are. They cram it down our throats that we need to be careful at those parties, but don’t tell us what we REALLY need to know.”

As a mom, I learned a lot from reading those comments. I also felt a little out of touch with youth — I don’t think I would have rated “drugs and alcohol” high on my list, but I’m not sure if I have a real understanding of what it’s like to be in middle school or high school today.

How about you? What do you think is the biggest problem facing our youth?