Teenagers such as the "Trench Coat Mafia" members involved in the Colorado school shootings are no fun to be around. They're hostile, have a foul mouth, wear weird clothes and don't like adults.

"It's easy to walk away from these kids, but they're the ones who need our help the most," says Joyce Walker, a 4-H youth development educator with the University of Minnesota Extension Service.

And we have a vested interest, she adds. "If we don't reach out to those who are alienated, isolated and excluded, we put all children in harm's way."

Quality after-school programs, youth organizations, caring parents and adults can reach alienated teens in ways that are difficult for schools to do, Walker says.

"It's easy to criticize the Colorado school for tolerating this dangerous sub-culture of kids in the school," notes Walker. "But what would have happened if school counselors had been diverted to working with them instead of helping mainstream students get into colleges of their choice? Many parents would not have tolerated it."

Youth programs and after-school programs have lower adult-to- youth ratios, Walker says, and are free to structure activities and interactions to meet the specific needs of young people,

Troubled teens show signs of depression and alienation. "You can describe them as excluded, marginalized, belittled, made fun of by others," Walker says. "And they push us away. They act in ways that are downright hard to like. But we must try."

"Reaching out to connect doesn't mean we approve of their negative behavior," Walker adds. "It does mean we care about them and want to give friendship and support."

Name-calling should never be tolerated in schools or youth programs, Walker says, "Adults must have a zero-tolerance for name-calling." "If we tolerate it, it sends a message of acceptance and can lead to more serious behavior."

Troubled teens may be quiet and withdrawn. The flip side is anger, hostility and violence. It's hard to know what triggers the self-destructive act, Walker says. Something happens, the teens become frustrated, hopeless, angry and act out their desperation.

Source: Joyce Walker (612) 625-2701
Writer: Jack Sperbeck, Communications, (612) 625-1794, jsperbeck@extension.umn.edu

http://www.extension.umn.edu/extensionnews/1999/JP1083.html".htm

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