REMARKS: 'WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH KIDS TODAY?' NOT MUCH!

We in the media at large are always quick to jump on youth who go bad. Lurid headlines, shocking video images and unsettling sound bites are becoming more and more common place. Many troubled or unsound individuals have then turned "copycat," thus increasing the problem.

But what about the youths who have NOT gone bad? Sometimes we forget that these are still in the majority. Especially in a rural, Midwest community setting, today's young people are probably as good as ever. I've quoted the classic lyrics to the song Paul Lynde sang in "Bye, Bye Birdie" in numerous articles and columns. "What's the matter with kids today?" Lynde sang in his inimitable twang. "Why can't they be like we were? Perfect in every way!"

Obviously, if any of us remember ourselves as being "perfect" teenagers, I'm sure we can find someone a generation or two older who can rectify our faulty memory. None of us were perfect; we worried and antagonized the old folks to some extent, no matter what era we grew up in.

After meeting and interviewing a number of area youth in Cape and Scott counties, from Josh Pfefferkorn (state FBLA president), Jeni Zinner (U.S. Senate page), Jackson band and theater students, to Chaffee FBLA and FHA competitors, to Scott City band members, to other standout individuals like Oran's Daniel Dirnberger, I have no doubt that this region is blessed with outstanding young people.

I've been fortunate to spend most of my life living and working in smaller Midwest communities. In most, the biggest complaint with today's teens is that they have nothing to do. They hang around. They sit. They stand. They talk. They may operate a skateboard or a car stereo. I don't deny that the potential for problems exists when kids hang out, bored, on the sidewalks night after night. There are many communities, though, that desperately WISH this was their only youth-related problem!

I am now helping with the youth ministry in my church (Bethany Baptist in Cape) and have had a chance to meet even more outstanding young people from all over Cape and Scott counties. Young people are fun and full of energy. I hope local communities look at today's teens not so much with alarm as with concern for the kids themselves. Hopefully some programs or activities can be implemented in the new century that will cut off any future problems before they happen.

I appreciate all those adults who are already doing their best to help today's youth, whether they are teachers or other school staff members, church youth workers, summer recreation leaders, scouting leaders or just concerned community members. Today's youth, naturally, are tomorrow's leaders. They are also quite capable to making a significant contribution to TODAY'S society. I hope we adults will encourage them in this direction as much as possible.