The price of boredom

NewsPress Editorial Board

June 08, 2008 12:55 am

— The city of Cushing is considering constructing a park for skateboarders, in part, due to the fact skateboarders are riding in areas they should not be riding.
The city of Stillwater faced much the same problem years ago and constructed a skate park in response. Seemingly, the park has made things better for all concerned.
Still, should it be the responsibility of the city — any city — to use tax money to entertain children who are, basically, misbehaving? Do children no longer have parents? Isn’t there anybody willing to act responsibly any more?
That is hyperbole, of course, but the sad fact is too many children are left to their own devices and, as children sometimes do, a few find themselves doing things they know they should not be doing. Cities increasingly find themselves spending money to entertain children not because it is a good thing to do, but because it is the best way to protect local businesses. Cushing already has a pool that is the envy of much larger cities but it is not, apparently, enough.
“There’s nothing to do in this town” should not be treated as justification of vandalism — or worse. This is not a problem Cushing can tackle on its own because it is a societal problem. Until “society” decides it will no longer except children misbehaving because they are bored, we will all have to keep paying for distractions.