Last month I wrote about ways to ask young people their opinions.  Well, we’ve been practicing.  We just completed community conversations with 5 different groups in Buncombe County.  As part of conversations in over 35 communities around the country, our local discussions will be folded into a national report on the kind of community people want to live in and what gets in the way – particularly around young people who have dropped out of school or who are out of work. 

Getting at Results

Young people say that they have ideas but no one hears them. Last summer, I had a session with high school students and they said:

• School staffs don’t ask students their opinions or if they do ask, they don’t listen. They gave some examples including food service and a tardy policy.
• Students need to keep trying to make their voices heard.

Basic Recipe:

Ask for an opinion

Listen to the answer

Repeat what was said

Don’t express your opinion

“How involved are you in the lives of young people?” This question came up as part of a recent dinner conversation. Those of us with grown children tended to say that we were involved in the lives of other youth when our children were at home, but not so much since then. We talked about children who were friends with our kids and if we influenced them in a positive way. I was reminded of "Callie", a beautifully spirited young girl whose home life was chaotic. I remember sharing with her our house rules along with the news that when she was at our home, she became part of the group expected

In summer 2011, CAYLA students participatd in United Way's Community Conversation on Education

Let’s talk about learning and school. This is the launching of my education blog so people can share thoughts and ideas about educating young people – particularly in Asheville and Buncombe County.