More Troubles with Teens
Last week, we reported on an incident at the Court Street Barnes & Noble, in which a band of teens had an altercation with a manager and one eventually socked the guy. A similar problem seemed to happen yesterday, according to this note from Park Slope Parents: “All of 5th Street between 6/7 Aves is…
Last week, we reported on an incident at the Court Street Barnes & Noble, in which a band of teens had an altercation with a manager and one eventually socked the guy. A similar problem seemed to happen yesterday, according to this note from Park Slope Parents: “All of 5th Street between 6/7 Aves is taped off tonight. According to the policeman: ‘Stabbing’ ‘After School’ ‘Yes, it was students.’ He is not allowed to confirm if it was a fatality, but given all the investigation still going on at 8pm, I fear the worst. I have walked through the groups of teenagers on 7th Ave at 3pm almost every day last year and often this year and while they are often rowdy and often oblivious to anyone else on the street, those same students can also be very respectful and polite. It is scary and sad and yet another issue we should all be aware of and talking about.” Meanwhile, another group of Brooklyn teens was arrested for attacking another youth. Well, let’s talk about it, then. Thoughts?
I have taught middle school and high school, in the burbs and the city. In Manhattan and Park slope.
These kids are socially all the same. The kids you speak of from the middle and high schools here in the Slope, however, deal with things that many others do not.
* Narrow sidewalks for the hundreds or thousands of kids who are getting out of school around the same time.
* Their need to release their teenage energy after being cooped up in school all day is confronted by the distrust that they feel aimed at then when they walk down the street.
They KNOW that none of their classmates are from this neighborhood. They KNOW that they don’t look like the people who live in this neighborhood. They know that the loud. And they know that you are fully aware of these facts, too.
In short, they know how the neighborhood feels about them. And like all teenagers everywhere, they are much more sensative to distrust and disrespect than most adults are.
I don’t assert this because it must be true. I assert this because they told me.
As for knives, well, I’ve seen any many in burbs as in the city. The issue is not simply knives. The issue is the climate combined with the knives. Give them more space and more respectful acceptance, their tensions wouldn’t be so high.
Not that this excuses violence. There is a big difference between excusing and explaining. Frankly, I don’t know the kids involved in these particular incidents. I don’t know what happened. And therefore, I cannot draw any broad conclusions from them.
But I do know the broader context. And I know that those of us who live and/or work in the neighborhood have something to do with it.
Easy Solution:
Tear down all projects in Gowanus near BH, PS & Cg. Tear down all projects in Fort Green. Rebuild projects in Bushwick, East NY & Crown Heights. It would be especially pleasing to see the locals interact with the Hassis in Crown Heights.
This thread reminds me why Obama will lose this November.
Liberals can’t deal with race issues honestly and plainly. Gives ammo to the Right.
I disagree, “snotty rich kids” was one very small phrase in one post I made, and was not the point of my post either, other than to include their behavior in a list of unacceptable behaviors. You have made that the sole basis of several posts denigrating my opinions, and now those of bxgrl. Get over it.
Your constant harping on “snotty rich kids” can only lead me to conclude that you were one, or have one. If that offends you, then perhaps you need to look at your own class issues.
And while we are at it, very vaguely mentioning a case, long after it is in the public and court record, with no details, whatsoever, is hardly breaking client confidences. You’d have a better case against Law and Order’s writers than bxgrl’s attorney friend.
i disagree- number one, I’m simply posting in response to what’s been said. I didn’t bring up the subject, but when someone says snotty rich kids don’t carry weapons (believe me quite a few of them do), well, that’s sounds like a defense to me. But please, don’t give me credit for bringing them up- there were several posts referring to them after MM’s and before mine.
Don’t worry about my attorney friend- he gave no names or further details and it was in the context of a general conversation of defense vs prosecuting attorneys. It happened some time ago and what I posted is hardly “detail.” Wasn’t even in this state. Nor would I have posted anything more detailed, if I could.
No one’s assuming that at all- but I’d be less than honest if I didn’t say I think there are some who aren’t. Those people have always been pretty blunt about it too. But in the main I think MM is reacting more to the way things are posted on brownstoner- we’ve all been involved in very acrimonius debates and sometimes the topics feel “set up” to encourage flame wars, not discussion. I honestly think that’s what MM is pointing out, and just trying to bring a little context to the discussion.
bxgrl, put away the straw man. no one jumped to the defense of snotty rich kids. it was MM (and now, you) who jumped to bring them into this conversation, when they weren’t initially here.
by the way, you might want to suggest to your attorney friend that he not betray his client’s confidences, especially when people might be inclined to post details online. it’s an ethical violation.
bxgrl, I don’t think anyone is jumping all over Montrose. We’re just asking where in this story race and class was made an issue. At least A Guest gave some perspective on why he/she made assumptions. I virtually always agree with Montrose, but think it’s a bit defensive to imply this is race/class baiting when nobody brought it up (again, perhaps I’m missing something in the story above that provides insight into the race/background of the youths in question). Why was there automatically that 800 pound gorilla in the room?
I think it’s also unfair to assume some of us are not equally as outraged by a crime in Park Slope as we are of a crime on Mother Gaston Blvd. Who is doing the baiting here?
Well put MM.