Time to focus on positive options for local youths

I had the pleasure of sitting in a great event at Arizona Western College. Overseen by the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce and supported by various businesses were 18 finalists from Yuma County Middle Schools competing in the national civics bee. These 8th graders all wrote essays, studied up on civics, with the top five going to Phoenix competing statewide. We need more of this kind of thing. There is so much complaining, so much attention on youth violence, bad parenting, could-care-less attitudes, I think we miss the positive options we can put forward. There is more good than bad. Those options are infinite. The sources of those options are numerous.

Our high schools produce excellent musicals and dramas led by fine directors and given life by students who care about their art. You should see them and support them.

We could set up interscholastic Speech and Debates tournaments on the same track as sports. A regular season, playoffs, and finals. The categories: persuasive speaking, informative speaking, prose and poetry, dramatic readings, reciting someone else’s speech, and cross-examination debate. I did all of these in high school statewide. We can do these from Yuma, involving many dozens of students grades 7-12. Public schools and non-public.

Not a speaker? There’s chess.

Go big with an audience and large screens for every move.

A youth-oriented karaoke venue with lights and sounds for a new generation of singers,

Do we have fashion shows for those 21 and under to show off their fashion sense?

We hear of a lack of shop classes. Is there room for getting kids involved in woodworking, metals, and rocketry? I would think so. I’ve no doubt a segment would enjoy the satisfaction that comes from building things.

Purpose and satisfaction come with service. Recruit youths to be part of service projects, not as a one-time thing but as a normal thing. Put in the mind service is a necessary and rewarding part of life. Learn how to give.

Like the opening from “The Twilight Zone”, we can unlock a door with the key of imagination, bringing the attention of kids to so many things that can be done. Things that can bring them purpose, happiness, enjoyment in living. Most are not costly. Focus on the positives, not the negatives. MIKE SHELTON Yuma City Councilmember