Candace,
I agree! These kids are being trained that it's OK to destroy property if
it gets you what you want. Here in Wilmington we have had the same
situation you described but we wound up with bumper stickers reading,
"Skateboarding Is Not a Crime." Well, I agree, skateboarding is not a
crime, BUT, destroying other people's property is! A church down the
street has had its granite walls heavily chipped as a result of
skateboarders. A bank downtown finally installed metal bumps on their low
walls to stop the skateboarders. The entire point is showing respect for
others and their property and that if you want something bad enough you
work within the system to achieve it. In summary, these kids have learned
that extortion works!
And I'm not sorry for venting!
Tim
Candace Perry
<candace@SCHWENKFELD To:
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Sent by: Museum cc: (bcc: archive)
discussion list Subject: Re: Problems with
<[log in to unmask] skateboarders on the museum
LSOFT.COM> property
04/29/2002 10:20 AM
Please respond to
Museum discussion
list
Greetings list: I truly appreciate what everyone is saying with trying to
solve the skateboard problem as diplomatically as possible. However, the
kids by and large are surly, impolite, and continue to abuse your property
despite warnings. In the town where my museum is located they have
destoyed benches, stairways, and other outdoor fixtures. When at last
people really started to protest, and wrote to the paper, the kids rallied
together (which I guess was a good thing) and posted signs on business
doors that said "Don't want us on your property? Build us a skate park!"
This was taken as a threat by some, more flurry in the newspaper, etc. etc.
Well, now they're getting their skate park. But it really, really makes me
angry that these kids could be so rude, throw around so much attitude and
end up getting what they want. No apologies to whoever they mistreated, of
course. Am I sour grapes? You bet! Have I learned from this? Sure, my
kids will never ever treat people this way and get away with it. That's
the best I can do! Sorry, needed to vent!
Candace Perry
Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center
[Candace Perry] -----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf
Of West-Bey, Jon
Sent: Monday, April 29, 2002 9:47 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Problems with skateboarders on the museum property
Why not communicate with the skaters and find out why they are using
your property. You may find that you can reach a compromise with them
and turn them into potential supporters. Remember, they are part of
your community, and they may have needs that can be met by the
services of the museum. Just an idea.
Jon West-Bey
Associate Curator for Collections and Programs
National Museum of American Jewish Military History
-----Original Message-----
From: Merri Pemberton [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, April 29, 2002 9:10 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Problems with skateboarders on the museum property
I have read some of the stories about the skateboarder problems.
I understand that these kids should have a place to skateboard,
and that some of the museum employees who wrote about this
problem wanted to find a peaceful solution, but shouldn't this
problem be handled more firmly, whereas you give fair warning to
the skateboarders to not use the museum facilities as a
playground, and if you disregard this rule, you will have to
face a punishment e.g. pay a fine, parents or children; or do
community service), and if that doesn't work, then maybe the
authorities should talk to the parents of these children.
A business, especially a museum with some of its artwork
outside, must be firm in dealing with these kids, and not have to
cater to their every whim - especially when not dealing with the
educational purposes of the museum. As a former teacher assistant
and teacher, I know for a fact that if us adults don't set
boundaries, even to something like skateboarding on the museum's
grounds, then they won't learn to respect the museum as a special
place of education, not to be used as a stomping ground, or at
least not respect it as quickly.
Unfortanately, some of the children -not all of them- may not
be getting the discipline and boundaries that they need at home
(another close observation of a teacher/assistant teacher), so
the rest of the adult society have to sometimes bear the brunt.
Well, I must be going.
Sincerely,
Merri
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