Talk About Town: What Do You Think About the New Teen Center in Hartland
Will you allow your child to participate in the teen center? What programs and activities do you think should be offered there?
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The Hartland teen center, which is scheduled to open in September, is hoping to provide a safe space for teens in grades 7 through 12 while also providing services and activities.
A wish list will soon be presented to the community for needed items that will include furniture, televisions and computer items, according to HERO president and Hartland schoolteacher, Kay Fountain.
Volunteers met earlier this week, helping to clean up the space of the former Hartland township hall, and according to Fountain, the efforts are going very well and she is hoping the center will be able to open it’s door on schedule.
Keeping the center “teen driven” has been a point Fountain and other board members such as Ceci Marlow, director of the Cromaine Library, have stressed and one of the reasons why they recruited a teenager, Shoshana Reynolds, to be part of their board.
Some parents, however, may have concerns regarding the center.
“Parents are saying it’s just going to be another drug center,” Reynolds said during an interview with Patch. “But there are good kids who are going to stand up and say something.”
Hartland Patch wants to know, what are your thoughts regarding the teen center? What activities or programs do you think should be offered? Will you allow your children to go and participate at the center after school hours?
Tell us in comments.
In this Thursday morning feature, we want to hear your opinions about certain topics making headlines. We'll be looking for your feedback in the comment section weekly. And we want to know what the Talk About Town is in your circles. Email Tatum at tatum.ryan@patch.com and it could be a topic of a future Talk About Town.
Kelly
7:23 am on Thursday, July 26, 2012
No my teens will not use it. I think there will be too many problems beyond the control of adults and it will be trouble. Kids will say they are going to hang out and then leave or be in the area with boyfriends and girlfriends unsupervised. Drugs will be an issue. Someone will be selling them in the parking lot at a minimum. Kids will hang out probably doing very little activity and texting whomever and probably getting in trouble online especially if there is wireless capabilities. I think it wil be a haven for trouble. A few kids will use it and max it out for the good idea that was intended and the rest will abuse it. I won't let my kids enter that environment.
Danna Castillo
2:53 pm on Friday, July 27, 2012
Kelly, if your kids attend Middle School or High School in ANY school district, they are already in "THAT" environment. Although your opinion is appreciated, I do hope the facility has much success and can win you over. Be the change you wish to see in the world!
Erin Shutz Oldford
8:46 am on Thursday, July 26, 2012
I'm SO happy to see this project coming to fruition! I'm confident those spearheading this endeavor will create a great place for our kids to gather after school! Kudo's to the township for seeing the vision and helping finance this project!
Hartland Alumni
9:12 am on Thursday, July 26, 2012
I am wondering- I think a teen center is a great Idea. However, why is the age limit 12? I work with teens all of the time, and usually to be considered a teenager you need to be 13 or above.
Susan B.
10:12 am on Thursday, July 26, 2012
I have no direct knowledge of this, but I would imagine it's because that's typically the age kids are when they enter 7th grade and because of child care centers. Most of the child care facilities in the area stop taking children at age 12 and I know the Hartland Latch Key program only takes kids through the summer between their 6th and 7th grade year.
Hartland Alumni
1:00 pm on Thursday, July 26, 2012
I stand corrected. Its grades 7-12. Perfect age group!
Joe Kleiner
5:18 pm on Thursday, July 26, 2012
I suppose it's due to the fact a 12 year old is in the 13th year of life, hence, a 'teenager'.
Patrice Heath
9:13 am on Thursday, July 26, 2012
I want to and do believe there are more good young people then bad. This gives our children something fun to do after school. With proper supervision this place could be a wonderful place to hang out. Perhaps they might lay down their phones for a while because their having fun. Our children have nothing to do in Hartland,they need to be driven or drive themselves. We have to have faith that we have raised our children to be responcibily people. If you have no trust in your children, what does that say about you?
Christine
10:26 am on Thursday, July 26, 2012
I do not agree w/ Kelly above at all-I think the teens already hang w/ their boyfriends ro girlfriends unsupervised and drugs r out on the street as it is and do not think it will be a drug haven as she states. the adult control/patrol will help that-not sayin it might not happen but it happens at the school and in other parking lots-at least this way it hopefully will be watched upon. Way to think so negatively when it has even started yet. I agree w/ Patrice in have faith in ur child and what u have taught them and to stay strong and say no to those influences-again they have to do it every day no matter school or where they go!