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Updated: 8:07 PM Jul 1, 2008
NAACP Address City Council: Mall Teen Policy
Bonita Lakes Mall Posted: 6:22 PM Jul 1, 2008Reporter: Tametria Conner Email Address: tametria.conner@wtok.com |
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21 Comments 
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I am a parent of a 16 year old who enjoys going to the mall on Saturdays.I do drop her off simply because that's not my thing (hanging at the mall).I let her know what is expected of her,and she knows that if she mess up in any way,IT'S OVER!Yes that seems to be the hangout for our teens,and has been for many years.I did it when I was younger.I don't drop her off to have someone watching her (other than the mall security),neither do I do it to have a babysitter.Shame on those who does it for that reason!Yes I think parents should be responsible for thier childrens actions (supervised or not).They are our responsibility!I don't like the idea of dropping her off ANYWHERE,but we have to teach them first,then try to trust and pray that they will remember what they have been taught and act accordingly.I mean we have to be realistic,we can't be with our children 24/7( as bad as we may want to be).No they're not the governments responsibility,but we do need thier help instead of critisism.
Interesting followup on this story. Seems the city is now going to court to get money for an afterschool program that was never started back from Mr. Jennings. Seems like I remember him getting money from the Meridian Public School District for this program the mayor has mentioned. I wonder if he has paid that money back, since no program was started.
The city council could pass an ordinance which would allow the police to arrest the parents of disruptive teens at the mall. If the parents were held accountable, the kids would straighten up in quick order. Wasn't Mr. Coleman on the council until it was discovered he lived on the coast? Does he live in Lauderdale County now? And didn't Mr. Jennings get money from the city council and the school system to start an afterschool program which never got started? Was the money ever repaid? Someone needs to take a real close look at this local NAACP group. I don't think it holds the same integrity it did when Mr. Clark was in charge.
Ah, Summertime. Kids are out of school and wanting to use all that energy doing something they enjoy. HOW DO YOU CHANNEL THAT ENERGY? As a youngster my interest was the outdoors. I explored the various creeks and rivers and any ponds I could to fish and enjoy it. Nowadays the creeks are stopped up with trees and the banks overgrown with bushes and weeds. Why not let youngsters clear the banks of brush under retired adults supervision and let them fish also. That is civic work. Establish criteria with counselors in the school system to focus each child's energy in something they like for summertime. They could ride along or help businesses in various trades and perhaps either learn a trade or find out that what they thought was for them IS NOT. Teenagers could be allowed to assist nursing homes by being helpers and learn a lot from people on the tail end of life who can tell them what is important in life. That, they may not be getting at home.
I hope people keep in mind these teens spend a lot of money.
I AM THE MOTHER OF A 16 YEAR OLD WHO HAS A JOB AND SPENDS A CONSIDERBLE AMOUNT OF MONEY ( MORE THAN I DO ) AT THE MALL BUT BECAUSE OF SOME UNRULY KIDS NOW HE CAN'T DO THAT I THINK THE ONES THAT ARE NOT SPENDING MONEY AND ARE CAUSING PROBLEMS SHOULD BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE PREMISES BUT I WILL MAKE SURE THAT HE DOES NOT GO TO THE MALL AND SPEND HIS MONEY BUT WHEN IT CLOSES DOWN DON'T BE COMPLAINING !!!!!
Security needs to be beefed up at least for the summer. There needs to be more of a police presents also. If kids are under 13 they need an adult to be with them. The mall is a hang out spot. It has been that way for years. If someone is acting unruly, youth or adult, then that individual needs to be removed from the area. There really isn't too much else around here for youth.
It is a shame that all we can do is find another place to band our children from. If you think the mall will survive without the teenagers think again. If the kids are not being disruptive or keeping others from shopping what is the problem. If You have security and police officer present that will deterr most bad behavior. And the ones that do not want to follow rules and regulations can be escorted from the premisses. Believe it or not most of these teenagers are spending money. Don't make an issue be an issue if it is not an issue. We all grew up hanging at the mall. I don't condon playing in the stores,dressing rooms, or messing with items you are not going to purchase. But in a safe building hanging out with friends walking up and down the mall who are they hurting. We also need to look for other places teens can go to be with friends in a safe enviroment. Most homes are not safe to have teenagers hanging out at. Just one mothers opinion!!!!
As many Christian Ministers, Youth Ministers and Christian Youth Group we have in the area, maybe it is time for the Christian community to step up and volunteer a couple of hours a week to go to the mall and talk with these teens. Witness to them and even invite them to their church to join in the activities that are offered to the youth at their churches. If these kids are approached often, as they congregate in the mall, they will either be receptive or they will quit coming to the mall because they know they are going to be ministered to. Who knows, this effort just might change a kids life. I do not know if it is legal to do this, but if it is, I think it would be a great start to solving this problem.
I don't believe that it's my responsibility or the city of Meridian's responsibiltity to babysit other people's children, they need a sitter, hire one. It's gotten so bad that a family or individual can not go to the Mall and shop in peace without all the half dress teens running around, some don't look old enough to be there by themselfs, not to mention how rude some are. Parents need to wake up and take responibility, if something was to happen to one of them, who are the parents going to blame, us. I raised my kids to respect others and their property. Parents take care of your own, you had them, you watch them.
The kids are at the mall because they have nothing to do. We need to open a teen dance club, a YMCA, maybe a skate park. The local churches should offer activities for the youth on the weekends. The Riley Center could offer discounted events aimed at the teens. Keep the teens busy in safe environments and they are less likely to get into trouble.
Its the Parents responsibility to see that their kids act responsible. Some Parents drop off their kids at the Mall as if its a Baby-Sitter. Their is a lot to do in Meridian. Swimming, fishing, bowling, skating. And theres the so called Boys and Girls Club that the government and the local community has funded. Its NOT the responsiblity of the local government to pascify their children. I guess its George Bush's fault that their kids act like hudlums and have nothing to do.
How bout the point of view of a teen? ehem, me...has anyone else noticed that it's not only teens who are causing problems? Every time I go to the mall with friends, there's always adults outside smoking. Plus, a lot of people are making complaints that there's nothing to do around here, but I seem to remember a saying that goes "the best things in life are free". What happened to the great outdoors and sports? If you must go to the mall, there are free ways to enjoy yourself. For example, my friends and I have found it fun to try on clothes to either look really good or just completely weird. We also like window shopping, then seeing if we can save our money to afford the things we like. As for laziness, not only is that infuenced by parents, did anyone ever think that maybe they just need something to do that they actually enjoy? Normally I don't like easy work, but I'm hoping to apply for a job at 15 working with animals, and I would do my job because I love them.
Concerning the mall and teens. The problem starts with parents. If the parents required teens to get a job, they would not be hanging out at the mall, causing conflict. I am a parent of a 20 year old and 17 year old twins. They all have fulltime jobs. Teens are the future of our state. I challenge parents to teach their teens responsibility.
First, people complain that the little kids are too loud in the play area in the food court. Now they are complaining about teenagers. What is next, banning kids altogether from the mall? I am a parent of a teenager. I have not seen any teenagers at the mall keeping shoppers from shopping in any of the stores. Teenagers have been hanging out at malls ever since they have been in existence. A lot of these teenagers spend more money at the mall than any adults that go there. Most of the stores in the mall are geared toward teenagers not adults. No, it is not the responsibility of the government to find something for these kids to do. If they are 15 and up they should try to find a job to earn their own spending money. I am sure there is some sort of a job for them to do. My daughter plans to get a job as soon as she turns 15. She wants to save for a car. If teenagers think they are owed something without working for it, it is because of the adults that think the same thing.